This ECB Women’s One Day Cup 2026 fixture is a crucial battle between two teams desperate to escape the lower rungs of the ladder. Lancashire Women currently occupy the eighth spot with 14 points from 10 games, while Essex Women find themselves rooted to the bottom of the table in ninth place with 12 points from the same number of matches.
Both sides have managed only three victories so far in what has been a testing campaign. Lancashire hold a significantly better net run rate of 0.200 compared to Essex’s -0.507, showing that when Lancashire win, they tend to do it convincingly, whereas Essex have struggled to stay competitive in tough situations.
Squads:
Lancashire Women’s Cricket Team
Danielle Collins, Emma Lamb, Eve Jones, Katie Mack, Liberty Heap, Darcey Carter, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Mahika Gaur, Grace Potts, Fi Morris, Eleanor Threlkeld, Seren Smale, Grace Johnson, Alisa Lister, Alana King, Hannah Jones, Olivia Bell, Phoebe Graham, Sophie Morris, Tara Norris
Essex Women’s Cricket Team
Alice Macleod, Cordelia Griffith, Florence Miller, Joanne Gardner, Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones, Eva Gray, Grace Scrivens, Jodi Grewcock, Amara Carr, Ariana Dowse, Abtaha Maqsood, Esmae MacGregor, Kate Coppack, Kelly Castle, Sophia Smale, Sophie Munro, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Madeline Penna, Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones
Players to watch out:
Emma Jones
Emma Jones was the absolute standout batter of the competition, topping the run-scoring charts with a phenomenal campaign for Lancashire. In her 10 innings, she amassed a staggering 499 runs at a brilliant average of 49.90. She showed incredible versatility, anchoring the team with three half-centuries and lighting up the stadium with a spectacular century, registering a top score of 113. Blasting 52 boundaries and two sixes, she proved to be the most feared batter in the tournament.
Jodi Grewcock
Jodi Grewcock was the epitome of consistency and class for Essex, enjoying an incredible run of form across her 8 matches. She racked up 425 runs and was only dismissed seven times, resulting in a sensational batting average of 60.71. She was a master at anchoring innings, registering three half-centuries and a magnificent unbeaten century, finishing with a high score of 120 not out. Her controlled aggression was evident in her 41 boundaries, making her a prized wicket for any bowling attack.
Kate Cross
Kate Cross led the bowling unit for Lancashire with exceptional skill and work ethic across her 10 appearances. She shouldered a heavy workload, bowling 89.1 overs and delivering 7 maidens to keep things tight at an economy of 4.63. Her persistence paid off handsomely as she bagged 16 wickets at an average of 25.81. Her campaign was spotlighted by a fantastic four-wicket haul, where she tore through the opposition with best figures of 4/38.
Eva Gray
Eva Gray provided crucial breakthroughs and reliable control for Essex over the course of her 9 matches. Operating with great discipline, she bowled 76.2 overs, giving away 429 runs while securing 13 vital wickets for her team. She maintained a steady bowling average of 33.00 and an economy rate of 5.62, showing her capability to bowl in tough phases of the game. Her best performance of the summer saw her pick up three wickets for 51 runs, establishing her reliability.
Pitch:
Stanley Park is a famous outground where seaside breezes can cause the ball to swing around quite dramatically, even if the surface itself is relatively true.
Weather:
The weather will back up a good day of cricket with sunny skies, hitting a pleasant high of 24°C alongside a south wind blowing at 10 mph.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Emma Lamb, Eve Jones, Katie Mack, Kate Cross, Alisa Lister, Tara Norris, Alice Macleod, Cordelia Griffith, Florence Miller, Joanne Gardner, Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones
Match Details:
Date – June 23, 2026
Time – 3:00 PM IST
Venue – Stanley Park, Blackpool, England
Broadcast – ECB Website, County YouTube channel
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