Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWPix.com. Lauren Winfield-Hill will lead her side out in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup final at Worcester on Sunday.
Yorkshire’s women are on the verge of becoming a Tier 1 side, heading into county cricket’s top-flight for 2026. But there’s one more game to go before they get there, and it’s one they are desperate to win.
It has often been said that this season by coach Rich Pyrah that progression and development is the primary aim ahead of their elevation.
That’s not to say results don’t matter – of course they do – but they have not been of paramount importance.
That said, now is the time when the outcome does take on extra significance.
Yorkshire’s final game of the season sees them take on Glamorgan in the final of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup at Visit Worcestershire New Road on Sunday, starting at 10.30am.
In the group stage table, Yorkshire finished fourth, Glamorgan second. Both sides won their respective semi-finals away at Middlesex and at home to Northamptonshire.
The White Rose are aiming to go one step better than they managed at the end of July when they were beaten Vitality Blast finalists by Middlesex at Wantage Road in Northamptonshire.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Rich Pyrah has urged his players to relax and enjoy their second final appearance of the summer.
That was an evening to forget as they were beaten by 10 wickets.
“We’ve spoken a little bit as a group about learning from that final, and we’ve done it so far,” said Pyrah.
“We beat Kent in the last group game, one we pretty much had to win to qualify, and then we beat a really good Middlesex side in the semi-final.
“We’ll have effectively played three knockout games in a row, and it’s great. It’s exactly what we wanted – to put the girls under pressure ahead of next year.”
Yorkshire won their semi-final against previously unbeaten Middlesex – nine wins from nine in the group – at Radlett on Sunday with some comfort, by six wickets.
They bowled their hosts out for 194 thanks to two wickets apiece for Beth Langston, Hannah Rainey and Ria Fackrell.
In reply, Yorkshire fell to 55-3, but Sterre Kalis led the recovery with an unbeaten 65. Victory was sealed with a little more than 11 overs remaining.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Ami Campbell is the second-leading run-scorer in the Tier 2 Metro Bank One-Day Cup.
“I thought we were good,” reflected Pyrah.
“The only frustration was that we let them get 20 runs too many, and we bowled 20 wides. We pride ourselves on being disciplined, and to gift themselves those runs, we can be a lot better than that.
“We were on it in the field, and I thought the chase was outstanding.
“Now, let’s go and back it up.”
While Yorkshire won five of the nine group games, Glamorgan finished ahead of them with seven.
The White Rose beat them in the Blast semi-final at Northampton, the Welsh side winning the 50-over group game at Weetwood last month.
Glamorgan will follow Yorkshire into Tier 1 in 2027.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWPix.com. Academy all-rounder Olivia Thomas has impressed with ball and bat this season. She has been elevated to open the batting in recent weeks and is the county’s leading 50-over wicket-taker with her leg-spin.
They beat Northamptonshire by 61 runs in their home semi-final at Cardiff last Saturday, comfortably defending their 209 all out total.
“They’re a good team,” said Pyrah. “Middlesex and Glamorgan have the potential to be Tier 1 teams, without doubt.
“They’ve had some good loan players, and we’re going to have to play well to win it.
“It’ll be a good pitch down at New Road.
“We’re looking forward to it.”
And the coach added: “My style is a pretty relaxed one, so I’m not going to change now.
“It’s just another game.
Picture by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images. Former New Zealand international wicketkeeper-batter Rachel Priest is Glamorgan’s head coach.
“My message to the girls will be, ‘Somebody go and grab it and let’s win a final’.
Glamorgan are coached by former New Zealand international Rachel Priest, and they are captained by opening batter Lauren Parfitt.
One of those loan players is Parfitt’s opening partner Abbey Freeborn, a Bears player. She is expected to be available for Glamorgan, with the Bears unable to qualify for the semi-finals of their Tier 1 One-Day Cup competition.
Parfitt is their leading run-scorer in this campaign with 376 from eight matches, while off-spinner Gemma Porter leads the way with 17 wickets from 10 appearances.
Ami Campbell leads the way for Yorkshire with 452 runs from 10 outings, while leg-spinning all-rounder Olivia Thomas has taken 15 wickets from eight games.
Campbell is the second leading run-scorer in the tournament behind Northamptonshire loanee Michaela Kirk (529).
Yorkshire had four of their players on Hundred duty last month in captain Lauren Winfield-Hill, Kalis, Beth Langston and Rachel Slater. Three of those are set to play on Sunday, but left-arm swing bowler Slater is out with a foot injury. There is no reserve day for this final should the weather intervene.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWPix.com. Beth Langston was excellent in setting the tone in last Sunday’s semi-final win over Middlesex at Radlett, claiming two early wickets and bowling her 10 overs straight through having taken the new ball.
