Hampshire (women) vs Lancashire (women) – league one, match 59 – final at The Utilita Bowl Stadium, Southampton on Sunday 21 September 2025
Lancashire Women made history before 2,536 spectators when collecting the inaugural competition trophy, beating Hants women by six wickets. POTM was International player Gaby Lewis who carried her bat [141*not out(from 143 balls).] Proud skipper Ellie Threlkeld told reporters that Gaby Lewis’s match-winning innings was ‘one of the best’ performances she’d ever seen; also lauding Seren Smale [72 runs(from 85 balls)] whose ‘match-defining’ partnership with Lewis posted 144. Separately, ‘Lancashire Thunder,’ also won the inaugural ‘County Cup’ knock-out during May, rounding-off a ‘really successful year.’
By comparison, Hants women had remained top-of-table. Skipper Georgia Adams [77(from 98)] made ‘top-score.’ Maia Bouchier [66(from 59)] scored her eighth ’fifty’ this season. Lancs seamer Grace Potts took a match-winning 3-fer (taking three wickets/conceding 47 runs.) On the day, Ailsa Lister scored four to ’tie’ the match, adding the winning ’single:’ That moment also marked Freya Davies’ retirement from playing A-list’ cricket. Commentators were: Michael ‘Mike’ McCann (Sports journalist) with guest Sophie Luff (Somerset women’s skipper); plus pitch-side host Steve Watts for the ECB. Weather: blue sky became cloudy grey, between innings.
Hampshire (women) wearing navy blue, white neck-line with yellow batting pads and white numbering; *skipper Georgia Adams *[Ellie Threlkeld keeping wicket for Lancs women] *with Bex Tyson, without Ava Lee; *without Lauren Bell & Linsey Smith (England call-up); *After 10 overs ‘power-play’ 44/0; *Rhianna Southby was caught aerial at ‘mid-on’ by Kate Cross from Grace Potts; *Maia Bouchier was caught at ‘mid-on’ by Kate Cross from Mahika Gaur; *After 25overs 125/2; *Left-handed Freya Kemp was caught at ‘cover’ by Aisla Lister, from Hannah Jones; *Georgia Adams was bowled by Fi Morris; *Nancy Harman went ‘leg-before’ to Grace Potts; *Abi Norgrove was caught aerial at ‘long-off’ by Kate Cross running round, from Grace Potts; Hampshire (women) batting: Georgia Adams77(98), Maia Bouchier66(59), Freya Kemp41(41), Abi Norgrove36(31), Rhianna Southby35(51), Naomi Dattani18*not out(14); Lancashire (women) bowling: Grace Potts 3/47, Fi Morris 1/41, Hannah Jones 1/50, Mahika Gaur 1/63;
Lancashire (women) wearing navy blue with embroidered ‘red-rose’ motifs and white numbers; *skipper Ellie Threlkeld *[Rhianna Southby keeping wicket for Hants women] *International player Gaby Lewis (Republic of Ireland) *Scotland international Ailsa Lister *also with Mahika Gaur; *announced as ‘unchanged,’ still without Sophie Ecclestone and Emma Lamb (England call-ups); *Left-handed Alice Clarke was ‘run-out’ from ‘mid-wicket’ by Freya Kemp’s direct hit; *After 10 overs ‘power-play’ 49/1 (vs 44/0); *Level-pegging after 25overs 124/1(vs 125/2); *Seren Smale was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Freya Kemp, from Mary Taylor; *Fi Morris was ‘run-out’ from ‘deep-extra-cover’ by Naomi Dattani’s direct-hit to the non-striker’s end; *Ellie Threlkeld was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Freya Kemp, from Freya Davies; No further wickets fell; Lancashire (women) batting: Gaby Lewis141*not out(143), Seren Smale72(85), Ellie Threlkeld32(30), Ailsa Lister 17*not out (14); Hampshire (women) bowling: Freya Davies 1/38, Mary Taylor 1/57;
Match result: Lancashire women 289/4 (@5.9 runs-per-over from 48.3 overs, target 289 from 50 ov.) beat Hampshire women 288/6 (@5.7 runs-per-over from 50 overs) by six wickets with nine balls remaining
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#cd7e1a744-02e9-4425-a3a4-d603f624f346_m3748b26c-77d4-461d-a47c-84b5c0e174a2
*BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225575 & SKY Sports@url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/hampshire-women-v-lancashire-women/scorecard/478e5d8e-76ec-5acf-bfed-36cc2a3be307
*Full match free-to-air, courtesy of Hampshire Cricket (nv play) via YouTube [07h27m12s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9xhJxbIhsU & Lancs CCC @url: https://cricket.lancashirecricket.co.uk/news/2025-news/live-hampshire-women-v-lancashire-women-metro-bank-one-day-cup-final/
*League one results @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/05/22/metro-bank-league-one-fixtures-and-results-up-to-may-2025/
*League two results @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/09/15/womens-league-two-results-for-summer-2025/
Footnote: actual post-presentation photo
