The Women’s One Day Cup 2025 kicked off with four absorbing contests on Day 1, setting the tone for what promises to be a thrilling tournament. From Emma Lamb’s unstoppable dominance to Suzie Bates’ graceful assurance, the first day offered a mix of individual brilliance and team grit. Here’s how the drama unfolded across all four games.
Durham vs Essex – Bates and Armitage crush Essex resistance
Durham made an emphatic statement in their opener, making light work of Essex’s 178-run target to cruise home by 9 wickets in just 32.4 overs. Suzie Bates was at her effortless best, crafting an unbeaten 93 from 103 balls. Her innings was a masterclass in pacing a chase—marked by 14 boundaries and unwavering calm. She found a perfect ally in Hollie Armitage, who added a fluent 64* to seal the win with a dominant 152-run stand for the second wicket.
Earlier, Durham’s bowlers set the tone. Phoebe Turner made the initial inroads, claiming 4 for 33 in her 8 overs, including the crucial scalp of Essex captain Grace Scrivens. Her disciplined spell denied Essex any momentum in the middle phase. For Essex, Jodi Grewcock showed resistance with a gritty 31, offering some semblance of fight amid a batting card that failed to fire collectively.
Somerset vs Surrey – Knight, Wellington outmuscle a fighting Surrey
A rain-affected clash between Somerset and Surrey still produced fireworks, with the reduced 33-over game swinging in Somerset’s favour. Heather Knight led from the front with a polished 64 off 54 balls, orchestrating Somerset’s charge to 238. Her proactive batting and leadership laid the perfect platform for a competitive total in the shortened game.
Earlier Surrey batted with spirit, largely thanks to Alice Davidson-Richards, whose all-round heroics kept her side in the contest. She struck a spirited 57* off 47 balls, rallying Surrey from a precarious 122 for 5. With the ball, she claimed the big wicket of Knight herself, trying to drag her team back into the game. But Amanda-Jade Wellington had other plans. The leg-spinner bagged 3 for 42 in 7 overs, dismantling Surrey’s batting order. She later chipped in with a handy 24* off just 7 balls to complete a valuable all-round display and help secure the win.
Lancashire vs The Blaze – Lamb’s authority sweeps Blaze aside
In what was arguably the standout individual performance of the round, Emma Lamb put The Blaze to the sword with a sublime all-round display for Lancashire. First, she showed her touch with the ball, returning 3 for 42 from 7 overs in a controlled spell that kept the Blaze in check. But it was with the bat that she truly shone. Chasing 235, Lamb remained unbeaten on 130 off 140 balls, peppering the boundary rope 15 times and clearing it once. Her innings oozed class and control, as Lancashire coasted to an 8-wicket win with five overs to spare.
Despite the one-sided result, Kathryn Bryce emerged as a bright spark for The Blaze. Her composed 70 off 90 balls helped her team recover from early stutters and post a competitive score. Bryce also delivered 9 steady overs with the ball, conceding just 43 runs and dismissing Eve Jones. Sophie Morris was another key contributor for Lancashire, choking the scoring in the middle overs with her 1 for 40 off 10 overs, effectively derailing the Blaze’s late-innings acceleration.
Hampshire vs Warwickshire – Deadlock in a thriller as Freeborn and Southby shine
Hampshire and Warwickshire produced a heart-stopping finish in one of the most gripping encounters of the opening round, with the match ending in a dramatic tie. Chasing a target of 209, Warwickshire looked poised for victory on several occasions, but consistent wickets kept the tension simmering. Abigail Freeborn stood tall amid the chaos, compiling a composed 70 from 96 balls to keep the chase on course. Her innings was the glue holding Warwickshire’s innings together, but once she fell, the lower order couldn’t quite complete the job, falling short with scores level in the final over.
Earlier, Hampshire had stitched together a spirited total of 208, largely built around the resilience of Rhianna Southby. After early fall of wickets Southby absorbed the pressure and constructed a composed 72 off 95 balls. Her ability to rotate the strike and find boundaries when needed proved essential in setting a defendable score.
For Warwickshire, Chloe Brewer and Georgia Davis showcased her class with the ball, returning figures of 3 for 40 and 2 for 42 respectively. She picked up crucial wickets just as Hampshire looked to accelerate, and her control in the middle overs helped limit the damage.
In the end, neither side blinked, and both walked away with a share of the points after a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last delivery.
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