Durham will be eager to turn their season around when they take on a confident The Blaze side in Match 24 of the ECB Women’s One Day Cup 2026 at the Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street, on 2 May 2026, starting at 3 PM IST.
With Hollie Armitage leading Durham, the hosts enter this contest sitting 7th on the points table with 6 points from five matches, having managed just one win alongside three defeats and a tied game. In contrast, Kirstie Gordon’s The Blaze has made a far stronger start, occupying 4th place with 13 points from four matches after three victories and only one loss, making this a crucial battle between a side looking to climb and another aiming to strengthen its position in the top half of the table.
Squads:
Durham Women:
Emily Windsor, Emma Marlow, Hollie Armitage, Leah Dobson, Suzie Bates, Katherine Fraser, Mady Villiers, Trudy Johnson, Bess Heath, Mia Rogers, Abigail Glen, Katie Levick, Lauren Filer, Lizzie Scott, Phoebe Turner, Sophia Turner
The Blaze Women:
Ella Claridge, Georgie Boyce, Maddy Green, Marie Kelly, Michaela Kirk, Prisha Thanawala, Tammy Beaumont, Georgia Elwiss, Heather Graham, Kathryn Bryce, Natalie Sciver-Brunt, Orla Prendergast, Amy Jones, Sarah Bryce, Scarlett Hughes, Amy Wheeler, Cassidy McCarthy, Charley Phillips, Grace Ballinger, Josie Groves, Kirstie Gordon, Lucy Higham, Olivia Baker, Sarah Glenn.
Players to Watch Out For:
Hollie Armitage (Durham):
The Durham skipper and the senior batter have stepped up and led her side from the front, being the current leading run-scorer for Durham with 222 runs at a strike rate of 96.94 and an average of 44.40 in five innings with the bat, including a half-century and a century in five matches, carrying their batting department, scoring a heavy chunk of runs.
Katherine Fraser (Durham):
The Scottish all-rounder is making her mark in the ECB Women’s One Day Cup 2026, representing Durham, playing a crucial role with the ball, picking up 7 wickets at an average of 18.71 and an economy of 4.67 in five innings, so far. As a result, she is currently the joint highest wicket-taker for her side alongside pacer Lauren Filer. She has also chipped in with 47 runs in four innings with the bat, lower down the order.
Marie Kelly (The Blaze):
The experience of Marie Kelly is coming to the fore for the Blaze, scoring 216 runs at a strike rate of 79.70 and an average of 54, including a couple of half-centuries in four innings with the bat, leading the run-scoring charts for the Kirstie Gordon-led side. She has played a vital role in setting up a solid platform at the top of the order, providing the ideal platform for the rest of the batters to build on.
Orla Prendergast (The Blaze);
The Irish rising star is leaving no stone unturned with her all-round impact for the whole cricketing fraternity to take note of her talent and potential. She has scored 167 runs at an impressive strike rate of 112.83 and an average of 55.66 in four innings, including a couple of half-centuries in as many matches with the bat for her side so far. Besides her impact with the bat, she has also picked up a couple of wickets at an economy of 5.05 in four innings with the ball for her side.
Pitch Report:
At the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street, the pitch is expected to provide early assistance to pace bowlers through seam movement, setting up an intriguing start to the clash. As the match wears on, it transitions into more reliable batting conditions, often delivering a balanced and competitive 50-over encounter. This surface could reward disciplined seamers upfront while challenging batters to build innings patiently.
Weather Report:
Cool and overcast conditions are forecast for the Riverside Ground on 2 May 2026, with temperatures peaking at 12–14°C during the afternoon and dipping to 5–7°C by evening. A moderate chance of intermittent showers or drizzle looms, typical of early May in North East England. Light to moderate winds across the open venue will add a chill factor, potentially influencing play and player comfort.
Fantasy Playing 11:
Maddy Green, Marie Kelly, Tammy Beaumont, Kathryn Bryce, Sarah Bryce (wk), Orla Prendergast, Hollie Armitage, Katherine Fraser, Trudy Johnson, Grace Ballinger, Phoebe Turner.
Match Details:
Date: 2nd May 2026 (Saturday).
Time: 3 PM IST
Venue: Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street.
Broadcast: The ECB App, Website, and YouTube Channels will be streaming the game.
I am Yash Tailor, and I believe work should be driven by passion. Therefore, after completing my Engineering, I chose to work in the Cricket industry, my passion. My goal is to reach a stage where I truly enjoy what I do and give my best to every task with energy and purpose.