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The Durham Women vs Essex Women prediction for the 1st ODI of the Metro Bank One Day Cup Women’s 2025 sets the tone for a cracking contest between two in-form sides. Scheduled for Wednesday, 23rd April 2025 at Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street, this match promises high-quality women’s cricket. Durham, who have been in strong form, will be looking to capitalize on home advantage, while Essex Women, riding high with five straight wins, are coming into this fixture full of confidence. Let’s dive into the full match preview.
Table of content
- 1 Match Details
- 2 Team Previews
- 3 Durham Women Preview
- 4 Essex Women Preview
- 5 DURW vs ESSW Probable Playing XI
- 6 Fantasy Team XI (DURW vs ESSW)
- 7 Favourite Team in Today’s Match
- 8 Pitch Report – Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street
- 9 Weather Report
- 10 Broadcast Details
- 11 Toss Prediction
- 12 Match Prediction
- 13 Share this:
- 14 Like this:
- 15 Related
Match Details
| Match | Durham Women vs Essex Women, 1st ODI |
|---|---|
| Date | Wednesday, 23rd April 2025 |
| Time | 3:00 PM IST |
| Venue | Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street |
| Format | 50 Overs (Metro Bank One Day Cup Women’s) |
Team Previews
Durham Women Preview
Durham Women are in an upward trajectory, winning 3 of their last 5 matches. The team is captained by the consistent and experienced Hollie Armitage, who brings both leadership and batting prowess to the table. A highlight of their lineup is the presence of international stars like Suzie Bates and Katherine Fraser, providing solidity and versatility. Fraser has been in red-hot form, especially after her impressive run in the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers.
The batting unit, anchored by Armitage and supported by Bates, has the ability to post or chase down competitive totals. Youngsters like Lizzie Scott and Leah Dobson are making valuable contributions with bat and ball. In the spin department, Mady Villiers offers wicket-taking potential while keeping things tight in the middle overs. Their overall team balance, with a mix of youth and experience, positions them as a strong contender in the tournament.
Key to Durham’s success will be how their middle order counters the Essex bowlers and how Fraser and Villiers perform with the ball on a possibly spin-friendly surface.
Essex Women Preview
Essex Women enter the tournament as one of the most confident sides, having won five out of five recent matches. Under the leadership of young sensation Grace Scrivens, Essex have become a formidable unit. Scrivens is known for her aggressive yet composed approach, and her partnerships with batters like Cordelia Griffith and Ariana Dowse have consistently laid solid foundations for big totals.
Griffith in particular stands out as a 50-over specialist—her ability to rotate strike and find boundaries is crucial in building innings. Essex’s bowling attack, led by Abtaha Maqsood and Sophie Munro, is both disciplined and dangerous. Maqsood’s recent success in the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers highlights her effectiveness, especially on slower tracks.
The depth of Essex’s squad is another major asset, with all-rounders like Kelly Castle and Jo Gardner providing flexibility. However, a potential challenge could be their unfamiliarity with the Riverside pitch and handling pressure in away conditions.
For Essex Women to pull off a win, they’ll need early wickets and a strong performance from their top order. Their unbeaten run gives them momentum, but they’ll have to be at their very best to overcome a spirited Durham side.
DURW vs ESSW Probable Playing XI
Durham Women XI:
- Hollie Armitage (c)
- Suzie Bates
- Leah Dobson
- Bess Heath (wk)
- Katherine Fraser
- Mady Villiers
- Katie Levick
- Lizzie Scott
- Mia Rogers
- Abi Glen
- Emily Windsor
Essex Women XI:
- Grace Scrivens (c)
- Cordelia Griffith
- Ariana Dowse (wk)
- Kate Coppack
- Jo Gardner
- Kelly Castle
- Sophie Munro
- Abtaha Maqsood
- Jodi Grewcock
- Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones
- Eva Gray
Fantasy Team XI (DURW vs ESSW)
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Suzie Bates | Batter |
| Hollie Armitage (C) | All-rounder |
| Cordelia Griffith | Batter |
| Grace Scrivens (VC) | All-rounder |
| Katherine Fraser | Bowler |
| Mady Villiers | Bowler |
| Abtaha Maqsood | Bowler |
| Bess Heath | Wicketkeeper |
| Leah Dobson | Batter |
| Sophie Munro | Bowler |
| Jo Gardner | All-rounder |
Captain: Hollie Armitage
Vice-Captain: Grace Scrivens
Fantasy Team Analysis:
- Armitage and Scrivens are match-winners and offer points in both departments.
- Suzie Bates and Cordelia Griffith are reliable top-order picks.
- Fraser, Villiers, and Maqsood bring immense fantasy value with the ball.
- Avoid: Ariana Dowse and Kelly Castle – both may struggle against Durham’s varied bowling attack.
Favourite Team in Today’s Match
Durham Women are the stronger side due to their experienced international core, balanced lineup, and better recent home performances. Their bowling attack led by Fraser and Villiers will likely trouble Essex batters more than vice versa.
Pitch Report – Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street
The pitch at Riverside is traditionally bowler-friendly, especially for seamers early on and spinners in the middle overs. Batters who take time to settle will be rewarded. A par score here is around 220–230 runs in ODIs.
Weather Report
- Temperature: 14°C
- Conditions: Partly cloudy
- Rain Chances: 10%
- Wind: Mild breeze, may help seamers early in the innings.
Broadcast Details
- Live Streaming: Available exclusively on Fancode
Toss Prediction
Winner of Toss: Essex Women
Decision: Likely to bowl first, utilizing early seam movement.
Match Prediction
Predicted Winner: Durham Women
Also, once the toss takes place, we might modify the Today Match Prediction as per the playing XIs. Please check this blog after the toss for the updated Prediction.
Disclaimer: Predictions are for entertainment purposes only. We don’t get involved in or promote betting or gambling. Also, We strongly discourage behaviors of participating in illegal activities related to cricket. Our experts try to be as correct as possible, but we do not guarantee 100% correctness.
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