The stakes couldn’t be more different for these two teams in the ECB Women’s One Day Cup 2026. The Blaze are sitting comfortably in 5th place with a perfect record so far—one win from one game. Yorkshire, conversely, are rooted to the bottom of the table in 9th place. Having lost both of their opening fixtures and carrying a heavy negative Net Run Rate (-1.416), the White Rose side is under immense pressure to turn things around at Headingley.
Squads:
Yorkshire Women’s Cricket Team
Ines Blackwell, Georgie Boyce, Ami Campbell, Claudie Cooper, Rebecca Duckworth, Grace Hall, Jess Jonassen, Sterre Kalis, Beth Langston, Hannah Rainey, Rachel Slater, Erin Thomas, Maddie Ward, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Jessica Woolston
The Blaze Women’s Cricket Team
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:
Lauren Winfield-Hill
Lauren remains one of the most reliable openers in the country, providing solid platforms for Yorkshire. She’s had a productive start to 2026, following up a quick 36 against Somerset with a more patient 60 against Surrey. Her ability to navigate the new ball and anchor an innings is exactly what her team needs as they find their footing in Tier 1.
Marie Kelly
Marie is known for her flair and ability to score quickly in the powerplay, putting bowlers on the back foot immediately. While she’s looking for a big breakout score this season, her strike rate remains healthy as she continues to take the game to the opposition. She provides that much-needed spark at the top of the order that can change the momentum of a match.
Maddie Ward
Maddie has been a revelation with the ball recently, particularly during Surrey’s narrow win over Yorkshire. She claimed 3 wickets for 38 runs in just five overs, showing a knack for taking crucial middle-order wickets. She’s also capable of playing a cameo with the bat, recently contributing 20 runs to help shore up the lower order.
Grace Ballinger
Grace is the leading left-arm pace option for The Blaze, known for her ability to create difficult angles for batters picked up 3 for 30 earlier in the tournament. After a successful 2025 where she took 18 wickets, she has carried that momentum into the current season. Her control at the death and ability to extract bounce makes her a tough prospect for any batting side to face.
Pitch:
Headingley is famous for its overhead conditions influencing play just as much as the pitch itself. The surface often retains a healthy green cover that supports seam and swing bowling, making the first two days a stern test for top-order batters. As the game wears on and footmarks develop, it tends to flatten out before giving the spinners a look-in.
Weather:
The forecast is partly sunny with a high of 13°C and a low of 4°C, featuring a 13 mph westerly wind. With showers to stay away, we are in for a complete and uninterrupted game of cricket.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Maddy Green, Marie Kelly, Amy Wheeler, Grace Ballinger, Kirstie Gordon, Georgie Boyce, Jess Jonassen, Hannah Rainey, Rachel Slater, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Jessica Woolston
Match Details:
Date – April 18, 2026
Time – 3:00 PM IST
Venue – Headingley, Leeds
Broadcast – The ECB app, website, and YouTube channels.
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