Surrey’s inaugural Women’s Vitality Blast season gets underway tomorrow when Bryony Smith’s side take on Somerset away in Taunton.
The Three Feathers have already made an impressive start to their T20 and shown why they are a team to watch out for, having reached the finals of the Vitality T20 County Cup.
Dominant from the get-go, Surrey were the only team in the competition to take on Tier One teams in every round and make it to the final. Setting the tone for their campaign, Surrey hit an incredible 237 against Hampshire in their first game, with Kira Chathli’s 95 (47) and Alice Capsey’s 89* (45) leading the charge.
For the Blast, Surrey’s powerful batting line-up will be further boosted by Australian Grace Harris joining up with the squad ahead of their first home game on June 5. With plenty of firepower throughout the batting unit, including England internationals such as Danni Wyatt-Hodge, England’s leading T20 run scorer, Paige Scholfield, Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey as well as skipper Bryony Smith, a major challenge for the team management will be finding room for all the talent in one playing XI.
The squad also has many talented youngsters who are making their mark in the domestic circuit, and one of many to watch out for would be Kalea Moore, an off spinning allrounder, who has been a shining light for Surrey so far this season. Making a ton in preseason against The Blaze, Moore has continued to be a reliable batting option, often stepping into the crease to steady the ship whilst maintaining a decent strike rate. With the ball, her right-arm off-spin offers control and threat, regularly breaking partnerships and shifting momentum. Her versatility and composure have made her an indispensable option for Surrey in both disciplines across each format.
A team with a balanced mix of experienced senior players and exciting youngsters, Surrey will look to attack the Blast with their aggressive playing style and aim to be a real force to reckon with in the competition.
Teams
Surrey will take on each tier one team in the tournament, playing both home and away, with the key addition of overseas adding to the excitement.
The Vitality Blast women’s competition county-by-county preview compiled by journalists from the ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay.
BEARS
Captain: Georgia Davis
Overseas players: Laura Harris (Australia, full competition)
The big question: Consistency has proved elusive for the Bears in the early weeks of the season so can they find enough to be contenders for the T20 title? They have individuals capable of match-winning exploits, and have pulled off some eye-catching run chases in the 50-over comp, but is the group good enough to challenge?
Final thought: A fast start is always a massive asset in a group campaign and Warwickshire have been handed a very tough opening with away games at The Blaze and Essex. Emerge from that double-header with at least one win and who knows what might happen for a team whose highly-talented spin trio – Georgia Davis, Hannah Baker and Charis Pavely – can put any side under pressure?
DURHAM
Captain: Hollie Armitage
Overseas player: Suzie Bates (New Zealand, full competition)
The big question: It’s been an inconsistent start to the summer for Durham in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, winning three of eight matches. Perhaps that’s understandable given this was a newly assembled squad for 2025. But, a couple of months down the line, can they kick on in the Blast and challenge the competition favourites such as The Blaze and Lancashire Thunder?
Final thought: The next couple of months are key for the progression of women’s cricket in Durham. With the likelihood of bigger crowds for Blast fixtures than 50-over matches at the Banks Homes Riverside, this is a great opportunity for this new professional side to really build a connection with cricket lovers, especially children, in the North East. Silverware is important, of course it is. But there’s somewhat of a bigger picture at play in this summer’s Blast for Durham Cricket.
ESSEX
Captain: Grace Scrivens
Overseas players: Maddie Penna (Australia, full competition)
The big question: How do Essex reshuffle their bowling attack to compensate for Sophie Munro’s absence? The seamer caught the eye during Sunrisers’ T20 campaign last year, finishing as their leading wicket-taker, but is currently out with a back injury. Despite their potent spin line-up, Essex will need alternatives to fill Munro’s role at the back end of the innings.
Final thought: Essex should be capable of posting challenging totals in this tournament. As well as Winfield-Hill and Grace Scrivens at the top of the order, they can expect runs from the likes of Cordelia Griffith, Jodi Grewcock and Sophia Smale – while Jo Gardner, who begins the Blast in impressive form with the bat, could take on the finisher’s role. But they will also need to develop a ruthless streak that has so far been lacking in their 50-over campaign.
HAMPSHIRE HAWKS
Captain: Georgia Adams
Overseas players: Charli Knott (Australia, full competition), Ellyse Perry (Australia, last six matches + Finals Day if Hawks qualify)
The big question: Will Ellyse Perry get Hawks over the line when she arrives? There is huge excitement about Perry’s signing but her introduction at Chesterfield on July 4, with six matches to go, may well be perfectly timed to get them to Finals Day, but equally Hampshire could be only playing for pride.
Final thought: The likes of Ella McCaughan, Rhianna Southby, and Bex Tyson massively stepped up in the first Metro Bank One-Day Cup block to fill the experience void, and send Hampshire top of the 50-over table. A replication of that, and Maia Bouchier shaking off her Ashes disappointments, put Hawks in a good position to continue the proud record of women’s cricket at Utilita Bowl. Paul Prichard and co. have seamlessly made sure there has been no disruption since Charlotte Edwards’ exit.
LANCASHIRE THUNDER
Captain: Ellie Threlkeld
Overseas player: Katie Mack (Australia, first three group matches), Alana King (Australia, from match four onwards)
The big question: Lancashire have started the summer brilliantly, winning six of eight matches in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, before lifting the T20 County Cup. Can they transfer that momentum into the Blast? If so, they will definitely be a force. They look to be well balanced, with strength across all disciplines. In the regional era, Thunder’s only knockout cricket came courtesy of a 2023 Charlotte Edwards Cup Finals Day appearance.
Final thought: Ashes rivals, Thunder team-mates. You could well see a spin bowling partnership of Sophie Ecclestone and Alana King during this summer’s Vitality Blast. Aussie leggie King loves Emirates Old Trafford. In 2021, she took a hat-trick there whilst playing for Trent Rockets in The Hundred, a particularly proud moment given it was at the scene of her idol Shane Warne’s ball of the century to Mike Gatting in 1993.
SOMERSET
Captain: Sophie Luff
Overseas players: Amanda-Jade Wellington (Australia, full competition)
The big question: Although competitive for the most part in their previous guise as Western Storm, a relatively inexperienced side tended to come up just short in close matches. Can this revamped Somerset squad improve on that record and demonstrate the knowhow needed to challenge for the latter stages?
Final thought: A series of shrewd signings and the availability of their international players has transformed erstwhile strugglers into more consistent performers in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup this season. Confidence and momentum gained from a series of impressive victories in the 50-over competition can now be harnessed to render Somerset competitive in the short format. As ever, much will depend on the form of overseas star Amanda-Jade Wellington and the availability of England pair Heather Knight and Charlie Dean.
THE BLAZE
Captain: Kirstie Gordon
Overseas players: Maddy Green (New Zealand, first four matches), Heather Graham (Australia, last 10 matches)
The big question: After last season’s impressive campaign established The Blaze at the top of the pile in the 20-over format, can anyone knock them off their perch? South East Stars, who ran them closest in 2024, have morphed into Surrey Women, with whom The Blaze shared 692 runs in an incredible 50-over tie at Beckenham earlier this month. There may be little between them over 20 overs too.
Final thought: The Blaze squad contains four current England players but it is their Scottish triumvirate – skipper Kirstie Gordon and the Bryce sisters, Kathryn and Sarah – who are the heart of the team. Gordon was the leading 20-over wicket-taker in 2024, Kathryn Bryce the top runscorer and wicket-keeper Sarah had only one in front of her in the dismissals table. They may hold the keys to success again in 2025.
