MATCH PREVIEW: Durham v Lancashire, Women's Metro Bank One-Day Cup
Sustained success is the aim for Lancashire - and confidence is high heading into 2026.
Durham v Lancashire
Women’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup
Saturday April 11, 2026, 10.30am
Banks Homes Riverside
Squad to face Durham Cricket
Ellie Threlkeld*, Darcey Carter, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Eve Jones, Hannah Jones, Emma Lamb, Ailsa Lister, Gaby Lewis, Fi Morris, Tara Norris, Grace Potts, Seren Smale
That’s the view of Red Rose seamer Kate Cross, one of last year’s players-of-the-year during the magical double-winning campaign alongside Emma Lamb.
The county’s defence of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup won last September begins against Durham at the Banks Homes Riverside.
Ironically, Durham were one of the few teams to beat Lancashire in 50-over cricket last year.
For the majority of the professional era of women’s domestic cricket in this country, which started in 2020, Lancashire have been the hunters. Now, they are the hunted.
In preview to the season opener in the North East, Cross was asked about that change in dynamic.
She said: “I've said that in a few interviews, and I'm always quite wary of saying it because I don't want it to come across like we're an arrogant team or anything.
“But, I think, what we did well last year was perform consistently under pressure - and I’m hoping that wasn’t a fluke.
“That's something we've worked hard on as a team, and I think we understand those moments a little bit better now.
“There are going to be teams who are going to want to beat us now. I think, naturally, when you've won two trophies out of three in a season, you are going to be the team that's looked at a little bit more.
“But we've worked really hard this winter because we don't want to be a team that just has one successful season.
“We want to try and build on that now and create almost an era of success at Lancashire.
“With that, we know we'll be able to encourage more people to come and play cricket, or come down here to what is an incredible venue to watch some more games.”
While Lancashire won this competition last year, Durham finished sixth out of eight in the group table, winning five of their 14 matches. They missed out on semi-final qualification on the final day of the season.
They beat the Red Rose by 89 runs at the Riverside in late July.
Cross, who took 15 wickets and hit 201 runs in 50-over cricket in 2025, continued: “It’ll be a good challenge for us up there.
“I know we didn't play our best cricket against them last year, and Chester-le-Street can be pretty difficult at this time of year. There’ll be, hopefully, a bit of movement in the pitch for me. But I know the batters won't want that.”
While the bulk of this Lancashire squad have been together for a number of years now, developing through the regional era under the guise of Thunder, last summer was Durham’s first as a professional set-up.
They have only added one player to their squad, with Australian wicketkeeper-batter Tahlia Wilson joining for the first block of 50-over matches. She has replaced legendary New Zealander Suzie Bates.
Cross expects them to be better for last year’s experience.
“For any team that was created last year, you could see there was some teething issues or just people finding their feet,” she said.
"I think what we've done pretty well here is we've built those relationships over the last four or five years. It's not felt like Tier 1 created a one-club mentality for us, it just kind of embedded it.
“Durham will be on that journey we started a couple of years ago.
“The likes of Lauren Filer didn’t play much for them last year. If she rocks up on Saturday, I know it will be a test for us on what will probably be a green pitch.
“I’m sure they’ll be a bit disappointed with where they finished last year. But, like everyone, they will want to better themselves this year.”
Following a productive pre-season trip to Potchefstroom last month, and obviously with what happened last year, confidence is certainly high amongst a group led by head coach Chris Read and captain Ellie Threlkeld.
“There is a lot of confidence,” added Cross.
“I think people are just at that stage of the season where they want to play some cricket now and not talk about how last year went and how good it was.
“We want to kind of back it up and do well again this year, but we can only do that when the season starts.”
Captained by England fringe batter Hollie Armitage, Durham have two of the three leading wicket-takers from last year’s competition in seam-bowling all-rounder Phoebe Turner, who claimed 22 wickets, and leg-spinner Katie Levick with 21.
Armitage herself was amongst the top three leading run-scorers with 524.
Lancashire opener Emma Lamb blew everyone else out of the water with 794.
Previous meeting
After Lancashire won a mid-May match at Blackpool, by 35 runs, in this competition, Durham gained revenge on home turf in late July.
They won that contest by 89 runs at the Riverside, although it didn’t end up affecting either sides’ fortunes in the final group standings. Lancashire, obviously, qualified and Durham didn’t.
In fairness, this was an impressive Durham performance shortly before the break for The Hundred.
Captain Hollie Armitage posted a superb 111 from number three to underpin a 257 all out total, with Australian leg-spinner Alana King claiming 3-31 from 10 overs.
In reply, a number of Lancashire players were unable to kick on from starts such 24 for Eve Jones, 32 for Seren Smale and 18 for Ailsa Lister. In the lower middle order, Kate Cross top-scored with 34.
But Durham took wickets all too regularly, led by three wickets for Scotland off-spinner Katherine Fraser, and the Red Rose were bowled out for 168 inside 39 overs.
Opposition player to watch
All-rounder Phoebe Turner was the second leading wicket-taker in last season’s One-Day Cup. Her 22 wickets actually made her the most prolific seamer, with only Warwickshire off-spinner Georgia Davis (23) bettering her haul.
Turner, 22, has just signed a contract extension through until the end of 2027 and has England A experience under her belt.
She was also part of England’s Performance Programme during the winter.
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