In an exciting curtain raiser for the Blaze 2026 campaign, Kirstie Gordon’s charges face table-toppers Lancashire Thunder, skippered by the indomitable Ellie Threlkeld, in Match 8 of the ECB Women’s One Day Cup 2026 on April 15 at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, starting 3 PM IST.
Making their tournament bow after a winter of fine-tuning, The Blaze step into the lion’s den against a Lancashire side that roared to life with a demolition of Hollie Armitage’s Durham by a staggering 149 runs on April 11 at Chester-le-Street, banking 5 points and the top spot. Expect fireworks as Gordon’s batting firepower collides with Threlkeld’s clinical all-round machine.
Squads:
The Blaze Women’s Cricket Team
Kirstie Gordon (C), Georgie Boyce, Kathryn Bryce, Sarah Bryce, Ella Claridge, Georgia Elwiss, Josie Groves, Lucy Higham, Emma Jones, Marie Kelly, Charley Phillips
Lancashire Women’s Cricket Team
Ellie Threlkeld (C), Darcey Carter, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Hannah Jones, Emma Lamb, Ailsa Lister, Gaby Lewis, Fi Morris, Tara Norris, Grace Potts, Seren Smale
Players to watch out:
Ailsa Lister
The promising 22-year-old wicket-keeper batter from Scotland is currently representing Lancashire in the ongoing edition of the ECB Women’s One Day Cup 2026. She has made a name for herself with her fearless style of approach to the game. She scored 5 runs in their previous game against Durham. Her ability to provide a power-packed finish could play a decisive role for Lancashire in their upcoming clash.
Gaby Lewis
The elegant right-hander, Ireland skipper, exploded with a sensational 131 off 116 balls (SR 112.93, 16 boundaries) at No. 3, powering her adopted side to 303/8 in 48 overs before Durham crumbled to lose the game by 149 runs. Picking up seamlessly from her match-winning 141* (143 balls) as opener in last year’s triumphant run-chase of 289, sealing Lancashire’s title with a 6-wicket final win over Georgia Adams’ Hampshire, Lewis remains a run-machine poised to dominate Trent Bridge.
Kathryn Bryce
Scotland skipper Kathryn Bryce arrives at Trent Bridge as The Blaze’s X-factor in their 2026 ECB Women’s One Day Cup opener, fresh off a breakout 2025 campaign where she reigned as her side’s top run-scorer and the tournament’s No. 2 with 632 runs in 14 innings (Avg 48.61, SR 84.04), boasting 6 fifties and a ton across 15 matches. The all-round maestro complemented her blade with 18 wickets in 13 innings (Avg 28.16, Econ 4.50), including a five-for, making her a nightmare for Lancashire’s batswomen in this high-stakes clash.
Sarah Bryce
The 26-year-old Scottish wicket-keeper batter Sarah Bryce, younger sister of Kathryn, brings steel behind the stumps and flair with the willow for The Blaze in their 2026 ECB Women’s One Day Cup campaign opener. In last year’s edition, she tallied 298 runs in 14 innings (Avg 24.83, SR 94.30), firing two half-centuries to complement her sharp glovework across 14 matches, setting the stage for a family-fueled assault on Lancashire’s bowlers at Trent Bridge.
Pitch:
Nottingham’s iconic Trent Bridge beckons as a batting haven for The Blaze vs Lancashire showdown, famed for true bounce, short boundaries, and high-scoring limited-overs epics with an average ODI first-innings mark of 271. While early moisture might help the new-ball bowlers for seamers. This beauty quickly flattens into a stroke-maker’s dream, promising fireworks for Gaby Lewis, Kathryn Bryce, and Co. under clear skies, expect totals to soar if the top orders click.
Weather:
It promises to be a mild but moody backdrop for the upcoming clash with mostly cloudy skies, light afternoon rain (45% chance by late innings), and temperatures peaking at 17°C (63°F) before dipping to 9°C (48°F). Southern winds gusting 17-18 mph and 80% humidity could help some swing and swing the game with a stronger swing bowling attack, while a moderate UV index of 4 keeps conditions playable, batters beware the dampening threat to Trent Bridge’s batting paradise.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Gaby Lewis, Darcey Carter, Kathryn Bryce, Sarah Bryce, Ailsa Lister, Seren Smale, Sophie Ecclestone, Ella Claridge, Georgia Elwiss, Kate Cross, Tara Norris
Match Details:
Date – April 15, 2026
Time – 3:00 PM IST
Venue – Trent Bridge, Nottingham.
Broadcast – The ECB app, website, and YouTube channels.
Loves all things female cricket