The ECB Women’s One-Day Cup 2026 (officially the Metro Bank One Day Cup Women) starts on April 11, 2026, and runs through to the final on September 19 at the Utilita Bowl, Southampton.
This is the second edition of the competition. Lancashire Women are the defending champions after winning the inaugural title in 2025. Additionally, Yorkshire Women have been promoted to Tier 1, expanding the top division to nine teams for the first time.
Below, you will find the complete ECB Women’s One-Day Cup 2026 schedule, team details, key players to watch, format breakdown, and streaming information.
ECB Women’s One-Day Cup 2026: Series Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | ECB Women’s One-Day Cup 2026 (Metro Bank One Day Cup Women) |
| Format | 50-over List A Cricket |
| Organiser | England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) |
| Season | April 11 – September 19, 2026 |
| Defending Champions | Lancashire Women |
| Tier 1 Teams | 9 (Durham, Essex, Hampshire, Lancashire, Somerset, Surrey, The Blaze, Warwickshire, Yorkshire) |
| Tier 2 (League 2) Teams | 9 (Derbyshire, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire, Middlesex, Northants, Sussex, Worcestershire) |
| Final Venue | Utilita Bowl, Southampton |
| Title Sponsor | Metro Bank |
The tournament uses a two-tier structure. Tier 1 teams play in the main competition, while Tier 2 teams compete in League 2 with a separate knockout phase.
ECB Women’s One-Day Cup 2026 Schedule: Tier 1 (Full Fixtures)
The Tier 1 schedule features 74 group-stage matches plus semi-finals and the final. Matches are spread across April to September, with a mid-season break in June–July for The Hundred and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England.
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, 11 Apr | Durham vs Lancashire | Banks Homes Riverside |
| Sat, 11 Apr | Hampshire vs Essex | Utilita Bowl |
| Sat, 11 Apr | Somerset vs Yorkshire | Taunton |
| Sat, 11 Apr | Warwickshire vs Surrey | Edgbaston |
| Wed, 15 Apr | Durham vs Essex | Banks Homes Riverside |
| Wed, 15 Apr | Surrey vs Yorkshire | Kia Oval |
| Wed, 15 Apr | The Blaze vs Lancashire | Trent Bridge |
| Wed, 15 Apr | Warwickshire vs Hampshire | Edgbaston |
| Sat, 18 Apr | Essex vs Warwickshire | Chelmsford |
| Sat, 18 Apr | Surrey vs Durham | Kia Oval |
| Sat, 18 Apr | Yorkshire vs The Blaze | Headingley |
| Sun, 19 Apr | Lancashire vs Somerset | Southport |
| Sat, 25 Apr | Essex vs The Blaze | Chelmsford |
| Sat, 25 Apr | Hampshire vs Durham | Utilita Bowl |
| Sat, 25 Apr | Lancashire vs Yorkshire | Emirates Old Trafford |
| Sat, 25 Apr | Somerset vs Surrey | Taunton |
| Wed, 29 Apr | Hampshire vs Surrey | Utilita Bowl |
| Wed, 29 Apr | Somerset vs Essex | Venue TBC |
| Wed, 29 Apr | The Blaze vs Warwickshire | Trent Bridge |
| Wed, 29 Apr | Yorkshire vs Durham | Scarborough |
| Sat, 2 May | Durham vs The Blaze | Banks Homes Riverside |
| Sat, 2 May | Lancashire vs Hampshire | Emirates Old Trafford |
| Sat, 2 May | Warwickshire vs Somerset | Edgbaston |
| Sat, 2 May | Yorkshire vs Essex | Headingley |
| Mon, 4 May | The Blaze vs Surrey | Trent Bridge |
| Wed, 6 May | Essex vs Lancashire | Chelmsford |
| Wed, 6 May | Hampshire vs Somerset | Utilita Bowl |
| Wed, 6 May | Warwickshire vs Durham | Edgbaston |
| Tue, 12 May | Surrey vs Essex | Kia Oval |
| Wed, 13 May | Lancashire vs Warwickshire | Southport |
| Wed, 13 May | Somerset vs The Blaze | Exmouth |
| Wed, 13 May | Yorkshire vs Hampshire | York |
| Fri, 15 May | The Blaze vs Hampshire | Trent Bridge |
| Sat, 16 May | Durham vs Somerset | Banks Homes Riverside |
| Sat, 16 May | Surrey vs Lancashire | Kia Oval |
| Sat, 16 May | Yorkshire vs Warwickshire | Scarborough |
| Sat, 13 Jun | Essex vs Durham | Chelmsford |
| Sat, 13 Jun | Somerset vs Hampshire | Taunton |
| Sat, 13 Jun | Surrey vs The Blaze | Beckenham |
| Sat, 13 Jun | Warwickshire vs Lancashire | Portland Road |
| Wed, 17 Jun | Durham vs Yorkshire | Banks Homes Riverside |
| Wed, 17 Jun | Essex vs Hampshire | Chelmsford |
| Wed, 17 Jun | Lancashire vs The Blaze | Blackpool |
| Wed, 17 Jun | Somerset vs Warwickshire | Exmouth |
| Tue, 23 Jun | Durham vs Surrey | Banks Homes Riverside |
| Tue, 23 Jun | Lancashire vs Essex | Blackpool |
| Tue, 23 Jun | The Blaze vs Yorkshire | Chesterfield |
| Wed, 24 Jun | Hampshire vs Warwickshire | Utilita Bowl |
| Wed, 19 Aug | Essex vs Somerset | Chelmsford |
| Wed, 19 Aug | Surrey vs Hampshire | Guildford |
| Wed, 19 Aug | The Blaze vs Durham | Trent Bridge |
| Wed, 19 Aug | Warwickshire vs Yorkshire | Edgbaston |
| Wed, 26 Aug | Hampshire vs Lancashire | Utilita Bowl |
| Wed, 26 Aug | Somerset vs Durham | Taunton |
| Wed, 26 Aug | Warwickshire vs The Blaze | Edgbaston |
| Wed, 26 Aug | Yorkshire vs Surrey | Ampleforth College |
| Thu, 3 Sep | Durham vs Hampshire | Banks Homes Riverside |
| Thu, 3 Sep | Lancashire vs Surrey | Emirates Old Trafford |
| Thu, 3 Sep | Warwickshire vs Essex | Edgbaston |
| Thu, 3 Sep | Yorkshire vs Somerset | Headingley |
| Sun, 6 Sep | Essex vs Surrey | Chelmsford |
| Sun, 6 Sep | Hampshire vs Yorkshire | Utilita Bowl |
| Sun, 6 Sep | Lancashire vs Durham | Emirates Old Trafford |
| Sun, 6 Sep | The Blaze vs Somerset | Trent Bridge |
| Wed, 9 Sep | Essex vs Yorkshire | Chelmsford |
| Wed, 9 Sep | Hampshire vs The Blaze | Utilita Bowl |
| Wed, 9 Sep | Somerset vs Lancashire | Venue TBC |
| Wed, 9 Sep | Surrey vs Warwickshire | Kia Oval |
| Fri, 11 Sep | The Blaze vs Essex | Chesterfield |
| Sat, 12 Sep | Durham vs Warwickshire | Banks Homes Riverside |
| Sat, 12 Sep | Surrey vs Somerset | Kia Oval |
| Sat, 12 Sep | Yorkshire vs Lancashire | Headingley |
| Wed, 16 Sep | Semi-Final | TBC |
| Sat, 19 Sep | Final | Utilita Bowl, Southampton |
Key Dates to Remember
Opening Day: Saturday, April 11, 2026. Four matches kick off the season simultaneously.
First Roses Clash (Lancashire vs Yorkshire): Saturday, April 25 at Emirates Old Trafford. The first professional Roses match in women’s county cricket.
Mid-Season Break: Late June to mid-August. Players will be involved in The Hundred and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Semi-Final: Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
Final: Saturday, September 19 at the Utilita Bowl, Southampton.
ECB Women’s One-Day Cup 2026 Schedule: League 2 (Tier 2 Fixtures)
The League 2 competition runs parallel to Tier 1. Nine county sides compete in a group stage, followed by a semi-final and final. These fixtures are primarily played on Sundays.
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, 12 Apr | Derbyshire vs Middlesex | Derby |
| Sun, 12 Apr | Glamorgan vs Gloucestershire | Sophia Gardens |
| Sun, 12 Apr | Leicestershire vs Sussex | Grace Road |
| Sun, 12 Apr | Northants vs Kent | Northampton |
| Sun, 19 Apr | Glamorgan vs Leicestershire | Sophia Gardens |
| Sun, 19 Apr | Kent vs Derbyshire | Canterbury |
| Sun, 19 Apr | Middlesex vs Gloucestershire | Radlett |
| Sun, 19 Apr | Sussex vs Worcestershire | Hove |
| Sun, 3 May | Gloucestershire vs Northants | Bristol |
| Sun, 3 May | Sussex vs Kent | Hove |
| Sun, 3 May | Worcestershire vs Leicestershire | Venue TBC |
| Mon, 4 May | Derbyshire vs Glamorgan | Duffield |
| Sun, 10 May | Kent vs Glamorgan | Beckenham |
| Sun, 10 May | Leicestershire vs Gloucestershire | Grace Road |
| Sun, 10 May | Middlesex vs Worcestershire | Radlett |
| Sun, 10 May | Northants vs Sussex | Venue TBC |
| Sun, 26 Jul | Derbyshire vs Worcestershire | Derby |
| Sun, 26 Jul | Glamorgan vs Sussex | Neath |
| Sun, 26 Jul | Kent vs Middlesex | Canterbury |
| Sun, 26 Jul | Northants vs Leicestershire | Northampton |
| Sun, 2 Aug | Glamorgan vs Northants | Colwyn Bay |
| Sun, 2 Aug | Gloucestershire vs Derbyshire | Bristol |
| Sun, 2 Aug | Sussex vs Middlesex | Arundel |
| Sun, 2 Aug | Worcestershire vs Kent | Venue TBC |
| Sat, 8 Aug | Gloucestershire vs Sussex | Cheltenham |
| Sun, 9 Aug | Leicestershire vs Derbyshire | Uppingham |
| Sun, 9 Aug | Middlesex vs Northants | Radlett |
| Sun, 9 Aug | Worcestershire vs Glamorgan | Venue TBC |
| Sun, 16 Aug | Gloucestershire vs Kent | Cheltenham |
| Sun, 16 Aug | Leicestershire vs Middlesex | Venue TBC |
| Sun, 16 Aug | Northants vs Worcestershire | Northampton |
| Sun, 16 Aug | Sussex vs Derbyshire | Horsham |
| Sun, 6 Sep | Derbyshire vs Northants | Venue TBC |
| Sun, 6 Sep | Kent vs Leicestershire | Canterbury |
| Sun, 6 Sep | Middlesex vs Glamorgan | Radlett |
| Sun, 6 Sep | Worcestershire vs Gloucestershire | Venue TBC |
| Sun, 13 Sep | League 2 Semi-Final | TBC |
| Sun, 20 Sep | League 2 Final | TBC |
Teams in the ECB Women’s One-Day Cup 2026
For the first time, nine teams compete in Tier 1 after Yorkshire’s promotion from Tier 2. Here is a quick look at each side and what they bring to the table.
Lancashire Women (Defending Champions)
Captain: Ellie Threlkeld | Coach: Chris Read | 2025 Finish: Champions
Lancashire’s 2025 title run was sensational. Emma Lamb crossed 1,000 runs across all formats last season. Ireland skipper Gaby Lewis returns as the overseas signing after her match-winning 141 in the 2025 final.
The big question? Whether the Red Rose can handle being the hunted rather than the hunters this time around.
Hampshire Women (2025 Runners-Up)
Captain: Georgia Adams | Coach: Paul Prichard | 2025 Finish: Runners-Up
Losing Freya Davies (retired) and Mary Taylor (moved to Warwickshire) hurts the pace department. However, Aussie leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington arrives as the new overseas star.
Watch out for 20-year-old swing bowler Daisy Gibb, who impressed in preseason with two strong spells.
Surrey Women
Captain: Kira Chathli | Coach: Johann Myburgh | 2025 Finish: 4th
Surrey were dominant in the Vitality Blast but struggled to defend big scores in 50 overs. Alice Davidson-Richards led the run charts with 595 runs in 2025.
Teenager Tilly Corteen-Coleman, sold for £105,000 at The Hundred auction, is one to keep an eye on in the spin department.
The Blaze
Captain: Kirstie Gordon | Coach: Craig Cumming | 2025 Finish: 2nd
Three semi-final losses in 2025 stung. Ireland all-rounder Orla Prendergast returns for a third stint, while Charli Knott (Australia) covers the T20 World Cup window.
Fun fact: The Blaze is playing its final season under this name. A county rebrand is confirmed for 2027.
Somerset Women
Captain: Sophie Luff | Coach: Erin Osborne | 2025 Finish: 5th
New Australian overseas signing Anika Learoyd (23) is a fast-rising talent who broke into Australia’s A team last year. When Heather Knight and Charlie Dean are available, Somerset look like genuine contenders.
Durham Women
Captain: Hollie Armitage | Coach: Dani Hazell | 2025 Finish: 6th
Aussie wicketkeeper Tahlia Wilson signs as the overseas player for the first half of the season. Seamer Phoebe Turner was the most prolific pace bowler in the 2025 competition with 22 wickets.
Warwickshire Women
Captain: Georgia Davis | Coach: Ali Maiden | 2025 Finish: 7th
The Bears have bolstered their squad with Mary Taylor (from Hampshire) and Alex Stonehouse (loan from Surrey). Look out for 17-year-old left-arm spinner Phoebe Brett, who has been compared to Sophie Ecclestone.
Essex Women
Captain: Grace Scrivens | Coach: Stephen Parry | 2025 Finish: 8th
Finished bottom in 2025, but beat eventual champions Lancashire along the way. Grace Scrivens hit back-to-back hundreds last season and is knocking on the door of England Women selection.
Yorkshire Women (Promoted from Tier 2)
Captain: Lauren Winfield-Hill | Coach: Rich Pyrah | 2025 Finish: Champions (Tier 2)
The White Rose’s promotion is a landmark moment. Signing England leg-spinner Sarah Glenn and Australian all-rounder Jess Jonassen on two-year deals shows serious ambition.
Vice-captain Maddie Ward (21) is a genuine utility player who became Yorkshire’s second-youngest-ever captain last season.
Key Players to Watch in the ECB Women’s One-Day Cup 2026
| Player | Team | Role | Why Watch? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emma Lamb | Lancashire | Batter | 1,000+ runs across all formats in 2025 |
| Gaby Lewis | Lancashire (O/S) | Batter | Match-winning 141* in the 2025 final |
| Alice Davidson-Richards | Surrey | All-rounder | 595 runs in 2025 One-Day Cup |
| Grace Scrivens | Essex | Batter | Back-to-back hundreds, England hopeful |
| Phoebe Turner | Durham | Seamer | 22 wickets (most by a pacer) in 2025 |
| Sarah Glenn | Yorkshire | Leg-spinner | England international, new signing |
| Jess Jonassen | Yorkshire (O/S) | All-rounder | Australian international on 2-year deal |
| Cassidy McCarthy | The Blaze | Seamer | £65K Hundred deal, 11 wickets in 2025 |
| Tilly Corteen-Coleman | Surrey | Slow left-arm | £105K Hundred auction, just 18 |
| Anika Learoyd | Somerset (O/S) | Leg-spin AR | Australia A breakout star in 2025 |
ECB Women’s One-Day Cup 2026: Tournament Format Explained
The competition runs in two separate tiers. Here is how it works.
Tier 1 Format
Nine teams play each other twice across the season (home and away). That gives each team 16 group-stage matches.
The top four teams at the end of the group stage qualify for the semi-finals.
The semi-final winners meet in the final at the Utilita Bowl on September 19.
Tier 2 (League 2) Format
Nine counties play in a separate group stage with a more limited fixture list (primarily Sundays).
The top sides progress to a League 2 semi-final (September 13) and League 2 final (September 20).
Strong performances in League 2 can lead to promotion to Tier 1 for the following season. Yorkshire proved that path in 2025.
Major Venues Hosting Matches in 2026
Unlike international series that stick to a handful of grounds, the ECB Women’s One-Day Cup spreads across county grounds, school pitches, and smaller venues. That is part of its charm.
| Venue | Location | Home Team(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Utilita Bowl | Southampton | Hampshire (also hosts the Final) |
| Emirates Old Trafford | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Kia Oval | London | Surrey |
| Edgbaston | Birmingham | Warwickshire |
| Trent Bridge | Nottingham | The Blaze |
| Headingley | Leeds | Yorkshire |
| Banks Homes Riverside | Chester-le-Street | Durham |
| Chelmsford | Chelmsford | Essex |
| Taunton | Taunton | Somerset |
Outgrounds like Scarborough, Exmouth, Blackpool, and Arundel add a festival-cricket feel to the tournament. It is county cricket at its most grassroots.
How to Watch the ECB Women’s One-Day Cup 2026 Live
Sky Sports and BBC Sport are the official broadcast partners of ECB domestic cricket in England and Wales
Select matches are broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket. The ECB also live-streams selected fixtures on its website and YouTube channel for free.
For international viewers, match coverage is available through the ECB website (ecb.co.uk) and county websites that stream home matches.
Ball-by-ball scoring and live updates are available on ESPNcricinfo and the ECB Match Centre.
What’s New in the ECB Women’s One-Day Cup 2026?
Several changes make this edition different from the inaugural 2025 season.
1. Yorkshire’s Promotion to Tier 1
After winning the 2025 League 2 title, Yorkshire move up. This adds a ninth team to the top tier and introduces the Roses rivalry (Lancashire vs Yorkshire) to professional women’s county cricket for the first time.
2. The Blaze’s Final Season
The Trent Bridge-based team will rebrand in 2027, adopting a county identity in line with other women’s professional teams. So this is the last chance for a “Blaze of glory” exit.
3. Strong Overseas Signings
Australian internationals Jess Jonassen (Yorkshire), Amanda-Jade Wellington (Hampshire), Anika Learoyd (Somerset), Tahlia Wilson (Durham), and Georgia Redmayne (Warwickshire) strengthen the quality across the competition.
4. ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Window
England hosts the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in June 2026. This will pull several key players from county duties mid-season, testing squad depth across all nine Tier 1 sides.
ECB Women’s One-Day Cup 2025: A Quick Recap
The inaugural season was a memorable one. Lancashire Women topped the group stage and then chased down 289 in the final against Hampshire at the Utilita Bowl.
Gaby Lewis hit an unbeaten 141 in that chase. That knock alone justified her overseas contract. Emma Lamb was the standout batter across the competition, while Georgia Davis (Warwickshire) took the most wickets with 23.
Hampshire reached the final after beating Surrey in the semi-final, where Surrey’s 287 was chased down with three overs to spare.
Suggested Reads:
Wrapping Up: ECB Womens One Day Cup 2026 Scheduled Between April 11 – September 19, 2026
The ECB Women’s One-Day Cup 2026 promises to be bigger, deeper, and more competitive than its debut season.
Yorkshire’s arrival in Tier 1, the Roses rivalry going professional, a raft of quality overseas signings, and a World Cup window adding tactical intrigue all make this a must-follow competition.
Bookmark the ECB fixtures page and the ESPNcricinfo schedule to stay updated throughout the season.
