MATCH PREVIEW: Hampshire Women v Lancashire Women, Metro Bank One-Day Cup Final
Hampshire Women v Lancashire Women
Metro Bank One-Day Cup, Final
Sunday September 21, 2025, 10.30am
Utilita Bowl
Lancashire Women squad to face Hampshire Women in Metro Bank One-Day Cup Final:
Ellie Threlkeld*, Darcey Carter, Alice Clarke, Danielle Collins, Kate Cross, Mahika Gaur, Phoebe Graham, Hannah Jones, Gaby Lewis, Ailsa Lister, Fi Morris, Sophie Morris, Garce Potts, Seren Smale
Win this and Lancashire can lay claim to have been the best team in county cricket this summer.
Women’s or men’s, they will be the only side to have won a double.
The Vitality T20 County Cup champions are hoping to add the Metro Bank One-Day Cup crown to their season’s haul, and standing in their way are a Hampshire side who have sealed home advantage.
Hampshire have won through to Sunday’s final - 10.30am start - on their home ground at the Utilita Bowl courtesy of an impressive fightback to beat Surrey by four wickets chasing 288. Georgia Adams hit a captain’s 107 not out off 101 balls at the same venue.
Of course, both sides seal their progression having had their backs to the wall in the semi-final.
While Hampshire recovered from 133-5 to beat Surrey on Wednesday, Lancashire beat The Blaze at Trent Bridge on Tuesday having seen their hosts, chasing 242, get themselves ahead at 187-3.
But a stunning comeback with the ball - inspired by Fi Morris, Kate Cross and Grace Potts - rewarded the earlier efforts of captain Ellie Threlkeld (92) and Ailsa Lister (96). They shared a fifth-wicket 166 to recover the Red Rose from 52-4 to what proved an unassailable 241-6.
“Ailsa was incredible,” beamed captain Threlkeld as she looked ahead to this final, one which will see her play her 100th List A career match.
“To come out and play that mature innings, for such a young player - she’s obviously shown her talent in the shorter format, but to do that was really special.
“It was a very special day. Being in a tough position in that first innings and coming through that, it felt like we stayed in the game all the way through - for 100 overs of cricket - and I’m so proud of the fight and character in that dressing room to get us over the line.
“One more game to go!”
Hampshire finished top of the 50-over group table with nine wins from their 14 games (45 points) before winning their semi-final. They beat Lancashire at Southport in May before the return game was washed out at Arundel last Saturday.
They will likely start as favourites as a result of their table-topping campaign and home advantage - Lancashire finished third with nine wins as well (41 points).
But, realistically, it means little given the final is an entirely different ball game.
And, while Hampshire have impressed in 50-over cricket, Threlkeld’s Red Rose have been excellent across the board. They have recent big game experience having beaten Surrey in the T20 County Cup final at Taunton in May.
“From the start of the journey to see how the team and the girls have progressed (is incredible),” said 26-year-old Threlkeld. “It means so much.
“A lot of our performances have been really consistent this year. It’s so good to see.
“And we’ve got a really great group of girls. Winning with your mates is a really special feeling.
“There’s one more to game to go, and hopefully we can have another good day and win some more silverware.”
And asked what the messages will be around the group heading down to the South Coast, Threlkeld added: “Quite often in high-pressure moment, it’s the team who does the basics and the simple things well who comes out on top.
“That will be the message going into the final on Sunday.
“We’ll reflect on how much belief we had as a group, and that’s going to be important going into the final.
“It’s also how well we stayed in the game (The Blaze semi).
“Hopefully we can get over the line.”
Unfortunately for Lancashire, the competition’s leading run-scorer Emma Lamb (794) will be unavailable as she prepares for England’s 50-over World Cup campaign in India and Sri Lanka.
But they will have new-ball seamer Kate Cross available (15 wickets).
Former Hampshire, England fringe batter Maia Bouchier has led the way at the top of the order with 473 runs, while left-arm spinner Linsey Smith has taken 16 wickets.
Like Lamb, Smith is also missing the final because of World Cup duty.
In fact, England’s squad for that competition, which begins at the end of the month includes two players from each county. Lancashire’s Sophie Ecclestone is one, Hampshire’s Lauren Bell the other.