MATCH PREVIEW: Lancashire v Somerset, Women's Metro Bank One-Day Cup
Lancashire Women v Somerset Women
Women’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup
Sunday April 19, 2026, 10.30am
Southport and Birkdale CC, Southport
Squad to face Somerset Women
Ellie Threlkeld*, Darcey Carter, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Mahika Gaur, Eve Jones, Hannah Jones, Emma Lamb, Ailsa Lister, Gaby Lewis, Fi Morris, Tara Norris, Grace Potts, Seren Smale
Ellie Threlkeld has stressed the importance of a fast start to the new summer, as Lancashire’s captain targets more silverware.
Threlkeld has recalled how the Red Rose raced out of the traps last summer, the Red Rose winning six in the first eight-game block through April and May in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup. It set them up to win that competition in addition to the Vitality T20 County Cup.
Lancashire have so far won one and lost one, winning away at Durham on Saturday and then losing against The Blaze at Trent Bridge on Wednesday, the latter by six runs on Duckworth Lewis Stern.
Wicketkeeper-batter Threlkeld contributed 37 and a stumping, while Emma Lamb was their standout player in defeat with 77 at the top of the order and a wicket.
Lancashire’s next port of call amongst a busy start to the season sees them host Somerset at Southport on Sunday, starting at 10.30am. Somerset have played one, won one. They beat Yorkshire by one-wicket in a low-scoring thriller at Taunton on Saturday, chasing 179.
Wicketkeeper-batter Threlkeld said: “We speak about it every year, but even more so with this start (three games in nine days). It’s about starting fast, and ultimately the team who is the most consistent across the year in 50-over cricket will win it.
“A lot of this competition is played in the first chunk of the season. So, as much as everyone will believe they can get back into things if needed, it’s about starting fast.
“Really, we want to re-produce what we did last year because we set things up nicely.”
In our preview to Wednesday’s game against The Blaze, we spoke to all-rounder Lamb about the Red Rose’s exciting top three batters in herself, opening partner Eve Jones and Ireland international Gaby Lewis,
And, in the opening two games, all have contributed significant runs.
In posting an unassailable 303-8 against Durham in the season-opener, Jones made 82 and Lewis a superb 131. They shared a second-wicket partnership of 176.
Against The Blaze, Lamb top-scored in their 223 all out - which ended up being short - with 77.
And Threlkeld has had her say on the terrific trio.
She added: “The duo of Lamby and Eve at the top was incredible for us last year. They set a platform and won us so many games. They helped us set big scores and chase big scores.
“To add Gaby into that mix, and to have all three of them available together is really exciting.”
Somerset are captained by batter Sophie Luff, who got them over the line against Yorkshire with a composed 76 not out. They have a new coach in former Australia international Erin Osborne, who replaced Trevor Griffin over the winter.
Should the ECB make their England players available this weekend, Somerset could include Heather Knight and Dani Gibson. Charlie Dean missed the Yorkshire game because of injury.
They have signed Australian batter Annika Learoyd, though she missed Saturday’s opener because of national intra-squad commitments at home.
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