Durham Women travel to the South Coast taking on Hampshire Hawks tomorrow at the Utilita Bowl from 2:30pm.
Dani Hazell has named a squad of 15 with Katherine Fraser and Charlotte Stubbs added to the 13 named for Friday’s trip to Somerset.
Fraser comes into contention following Scotland’s exit from the ICC T20 World Cup while Stubbs also joins up with the squad for the trip to Southampton having signed a short-term deal for the remainder of the Vitality Blast.
Durham come into this after a six-wicket win over Somerset and sit second in the T20 Blast on 22 points with five wins from seven games.
Hazell’s side are on point behind Hampshire who top the table, having beat Yorkshire by 42 runs on Friday for their fourth win of the competition.
Squad v Hampshire Hawks (28 June)
Hollie Armitage*, Katherine Fraser, Abi Glen, Heather Graham, Bess Heath, Trudy Johnson, Katie Levick, Emma Marlow, Harriet Robson, Mia Rogers+, Charlotte Stubbs, Grace Thompson, Sophia Turner, Mady Villiers, Emily Windsor.
Opposition Corner
Captain: Georgia Adams
Overseas players: Amanda-Jade Wellington (Australia, all)
2025 finish: 6th
2025 leading run-scorer: Ella McCaughan (327)
2025 leading wicket-taker: Bex Tyson (16 wickets)
Key winter moves: Ellyse Perry might have brought star power last year, but her overseas replacement, Amanda-Jade Wellington, offers almost guaranteed game-changing moments. Freya Davies retired, and Mary Taylor decamped to Warwickshire, so there is more fast bowling pressure on Daisy Gibb and Poppy Tulloch to step up.
The big question: Can Ella McCaughan restart from where she left off? The opening batter was on course for an all-timer campaign by beginning with three fifties in a row before striking the women’s competition’s maiden century. A season-ending injury stopped the run-fest in its tracks. A full campaign of that quality will only increase talk of higher honours.
Wildcard watch: Francesca Sweet. When she signed in the winter, the hope was that all-rounder Sweet would fill a hole in the depleted bowling ranks. In the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, it has turned out that batting is her stronger suit. She has all the attributes to be a powerful finisher, which could turn matches in Hampshire’s favour and earn the attention of The Hundred recruiters.
Final thought: This year’s Blast is a difficult one to predict, with it coinciding with the T20 World Cup. The Hawks’ non-internationals look in a far better position than a year ago to compete at this level, especially with Naomi Dattani now fit, and youngsters becoming more consistent. Bettering their disappointing sixth-place finish shouldn’t be difficult, and they should be in the mix for a Finals Day place.
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 Hampshire YouTube channel. Durham Cricket will have full coverage on social media, with a full match report at the close.