Durham Women return to Metro Bank One Day Cup action tomorrow, kicking off the final block of the 2026 season against The Blaze at Trent Bridge from 10:30am.
Dani Hazell has named a squad of 13 – including Australian Elena Larosa who is in line to make her Durham debut in Nottingham.
The 20-year-old left-arm seamer has penned a deal for the remaining five group stage matches as Durham look to continue their push for qualification to the knockout stages of the 50-over competition.
After two months away from the competition due to the Vitality Blast and The Hundred, Hazell’s side return to List A action for the first time since their dominant six-wicket win over Surrey in Chester le Street in June.
Durham are without Phoebe Turner and Emily Windsor due to injury.
Hazell’s side are vying for a top three spot ahead of match number 12 sitting third in the table with five wins, five defeats and one tie with 24 points and face The Blaze who top the group with 41 points having picked up nine wins from their 11 games.
Hollie Armitage is Durham’s top One Day Cup run-scorer with 437 runs – fifth in the competition, whilst Katie Levick’s 19 wickets are only bettered by Charley Phillips and Jess Jonassen.
Words from Elena Larosa
It’s really cool to have joined Durham. Hopefully it will be a real cool opportunity that I’m looking to take with both hands.
I’m pretty sure it came through Hollie (Armitage), through South Australia. I got a message from my manager saying that there was an opportunity and I was really happy to take it.
I’ve known Hollie for two years now, she’s a really nice person and a great cricketer with a great cricket brain so I’m looking forward to playing under her.
I’m just looking forward to getting out there in a Durham shirt on Wednesday and to experience new conditions.
Squad v The Blaze (19 August)
Hollie Armitage*, Katherine Fraser, Abi Glen, Bess Heath, Trudy Johnson, Eleanor Larosa, Katie Levick, Emma Marlow, Harriet Robson, Mia Rogers+, Grace Thompson, Sophia Turner, Mady Villiers.
Opposition Corner
Captain: Kirstie Gordon Head coach: Craig Cumming 2025 finish: 2nd 2025 highest run-scorer: Kathryn Bryce (632) 2025 highest wicket-taker: Kathryn Bryce and Grace Ballinger (18)
Winter moves: Ireland international all-rounder Orla Prendergast, back for a third spell, will play in April and May and at the backend, with Australian all-rounder Charli Knott available for the three Metro Bank One-Day Cup Women fixtures that coincide with the T20 World Cup. England leg-spinner Sarah Glenn has moved to Yorkshire, with all-rounder Emma Jones joining from Surrey.
The big question: Given the wealth of talent in their squad, The Blaze underachieved in 2025, reaching three semi-finals but losing them all. With the benefit of a full pre-season under Kiwi coach Craig Cumming, they are confident of putting that right this year and, with the World Cup likely to deplete their ranks heavily in mid-summer, the One Day Cup might be their best chance of success. Can they hit the ground running?
Player to watch: Cassidy McCarthy’s T20 form has earned her a £65,000 deal with Sunrisers Leeds in The Hundred this summer but she also impressed in the One Day Cup last season with 11 wickets in eight appearances. The 23-year-old right-arm seamer, selected for the England Women Performance Programme over the winter, could make an even bigger impact in this year’s competition.
Final thought: Called the Blaze since 2023, having previously evolved from Loughborough Lightning to Lightning, the Trent Bridge-based team will undergo another rebrand in 2027, coming into line with the rest of the professional women’s teams by adopting a county identity. If they can conjure some success in their final season, going out in a Blaze of glory will be a headline that is hard to resist.
Match Centre
The Club’s match centre will be in operation for the fixture with live scorecards, statistics & video highlights as they happen. You can watch the game live via Durham’s match centre and The Blaze’s YouTube channel. Durham Cricket will have full coverage on social media, with a full match report at the close.