In the electrifying opening day of the ECB Women’s One Day Cup 2026, from 11th April to 19th September 2026. Match 4 pits Hampshire, now led by stand-in skipper Naomi Dattani, against a resurgent Essex under Grace Scrivens’ captaincy, with the action unfolding at The Rose Bowl in Southampton on April 11 from 3 PM IST.
Hampshire, regular skipper Georgia Adams’ powerhouse unit, sidelined by a precautionary quadricep niggle, dominated the 2025 edition with a stellar 45 points from 14 games (9 wins, 2 defeats, 2 washed out), only to fall short as runners-up in a heartbreaking 6-wicket final loss to Lancashire. Essex, meanwhile, endured a dismal bottom-table finish last year with just 12 points (2 wins, 10 defeats, 2 washed out), but Scrivens’ leadership could spark an upset in this early clash of contrasting fortunes.
Squads:
Hampshire Women’s Cricket Team
Naomi Dattani (C), Maia Bouchier, Daisy Gibb, Nancy Harman, Freya Kemp, Ella McCaughan, Abi Norgrove, Linsey Smith, Rhianna Southby, Megan Sturge, Francesca Sweet, Poppy Tulloch, Bex Tyson, and Amanda-Jade Wellington
Essex Women’s Cricket Team
Grace Scrivens (C), Amara Carr, Kate Coppack, Ariana Dowse, Jo Gardner, Eva Gray, Jodi Grewcock, Cordelia Griffith, Esmac Macgregor, Lissy Macleod, Flo Miller, Sophie Munro, Sophia Smale
Players to watch out:
Grace Scrivens
Essex skipper Grace Scrivens shone as her team’s leading run-scorer in the 2025 ECB Women’s One Day Cup, amassing 429 runs across 12 innings in 14 matches at an average of 39 and a strike rate of 76.33, highlighted by a half-century and two centuries. Complementing her batting prowess, she claimed 3 wickets in 7 innings over those 14 matches at an economy rate of 5.91, embodying the all-round leadership Essex desperately needs against Hampshire.
Sophia Smale
Essex all-rounder Sophia Smale was a rare bright spot in their 2025 campaign, snaring 7 wickets across 13 innings in 14 matches at an economy of 5.36 to anchor the bowling with her left-arm spin. With the bat, she contributed 264 runs in 12 innings over those 14 matches, striking at 64.39 with an average of 26.40, positioning her as a key X-factor for Scrivens’ side against Hampshire.
Freya Kemp
Hampshire’s pace-bowling all-rounder Freya Kemp exploded in the 2025 edition, smashing 298 runs in just six innings across six matches at a blistering strike rate of 125.73 and an average of 59.60, featuring two half-centuries and a century. Her explosive form makes her a nightmare matchup for Essex as Naomi Dattani’s side eyes another dominant start.
Abi Norgrove
Hampshire batter Abi Norgrove contributed steadily in the 2025 edition, scoring 186 runs across 11 innings in 14 matches at a strike rate of 80.17 and an average of 16.90. Poised for a more elevated role with the bat this season, she could prove vital in filling the void left by Georgia Adams as Naomi Dattani’s side faces Essex in the first clash of their campaign.
Pitch:
The Rose Bowl (Ageas Bowl) in Southampton typically offers a balanced surface that favours batters, especially in white-ball cricket, while providing some assistance to fast bowlers early on. Known for being a high-scoring ground with average ODI scores near 274, it often favours chasing due to consistent batting conditions.
Weather:
Expect partly sunny skies with cloudy intervals around the 3 PM IST (10:30 AM BST) start, temperatures hovering at 10-11°C (feels like 7-8°C), and a low 10-15% rain chance. South-westerly winds of 20-40 km/h will make it breezy, with 50-70% humidity, though patches of rain may arrive later.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Grace Scrivens, Maia Bouchier, Abi Norgrove, Freya Kemp, Jodi Grewcock, Cordelia Griffith, AJ Wellington, Sophie Smale, Daisy Gibb, Sophie Munro, Bex Tyson
Match Details:
Date – April 11, 2026
Time – 3:00 PM IST
Venue – The Rose Bowl, Southampton
Broadcast – The matches will be streamed live on the ECB Official App and Website, and YouTube channels.
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