Thirty-seven teams from across the ECBs new three-tiered structure will compete in the knockout…
The draw for the inaugural Vitality T20 Women’s County Cup has been revealed, as part of the new domestic structure for women’s cricket in 2025.
The ECB announced a new three-tier system that will run from 2025-2028 back in April, with Durham, Essex, Hampshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, Surrey and Warwickshire awarded Tier 1 status.
Hampshire are known as The Blaze and Warwickshire as Bears for the T20 Women’s County Cup.
Thirty-seven teams from across the three tiers of the new structure will compete in the knockout T20 Women’s County Cup, with Tier 1 teams entering at the third-round stage.
Women’s county cricket structure for 2024
Tier 1 counties: Durham, Essex, Hampshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, Surrey, Warwickshire
Tier 2 counties: Derbyshire, Glamorgan*, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Middlesex, Sussex, Worcestershire, Yorkshire*
*Yorkshire will become a Tier 1 club for the 2026 season, subject to meeting a series of conditions on governance, strategy and finance, while Glamorgan will join Tier 1 in 2027
Yorkshire ‘surprised’ to miss out as women’s county teams confirmedWhat cricket is live on Sky Sports and when?Two all Tier 1 ties drawn in that round means the competition will be guaranteed at least two teams from Tiers 2 or 3 in the quarter-finals, offering them the chance of pulling off a giant-killing against the fully-professional Tier 1 teams in the hope of booking their place at Finals Day.
The semi-finals and final will be played as a three-match Finals Day on Monday May 26 in Taunton, with the two semi-finals preceding the final at The Cooper Associates County Ground.
The fixtures for the Vitality Blast men’s competition, Vitality Blast women’s competition and Vitality Blast Women’s League 2 will be unveiled on Thursday November 21.
Round OneTies to be played Monday May 5
Lincolnshire vs Cheshire
Staffordshire vs Cumbria
Northumberland – BYE
Yorkshire vs Derbyshire Falcons
Leicestershire Foxes – BYE
Shropshire vs Norfolk
Cambridgeshire vs Herefordshire
Northamptonshire Steelbacks vs Worcestershire Rapids
Sussex Sharks vs Buckinghamshire
Suffolk – BYE
Hertfordshire vs Bedfordshire & Huntingdonshire
Middlesex vs Kent
Cornwall vs Berkshire
Wiltshire vs Oxfordshire
Dorset vs Devon
Glamorgan vs Gloucestershire
Round TwoTies to play Saturday May 10
Match 17: Yorkshire or Derbyshire Falcons vs Staffordshire or Cumbria
Match 18: Leicestershire Foxes vs Lincolnshire or Cheshire
Match 19: Shropshire or Norfolk vs Northamptonshire Steelbacks or Worcestershire Rapids
Match 20: Northumberland vs Cambridgeshire or Herefordshire
Match 21: Glamorgan or Gloucestershire vs Sussex Sharks or Buckinghamshire
Match 22: Cornwall or Berkshire vs Middlesex or Kent
Match 23: Wiltshire or Oxfordshire vs Hertfordshire or Bedfordshire & Huntingdonshire
Match 24: Devon or Dorset vs Suffolk
Round ThreeTies to be played Saturday May 17
Match 25: Surrey vs Hampshire Hawks
Match 26: Winner of Match 24 vs Bears
Match 27: Winner of Match 19 vs Winner of Match 18
Match 28: Winner of Match 21 vs Lancashire Thunder
Match 29: Winner of Match 17 vs Essex
Match 30: Winner of Match 23 vs The Blaze
Match 31: Winner of Match 20 vs Winner of Match 22
Match 32: Somerset vs Durham
Quarter-finalsTies to be played Saturday May 24
Match 33: Winner of Match 25 vs Winner of Match 32
Match 34: Winner of Match 31 vs Winner of Match 30
Match 35: Winner of Match 27 vs Winner of Match 28
Match 36: Winner of Match 29 vs Winner of Match 26
Finals DayMonday May 26 – The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton
Semi-final 1: Winner of Match 35 vs Winner of Match 34
Semi-final 2: Winner of Match 36 vs Winner of Match 33
Vitality T20 Women’s County Cup Final: Winner of Semi-final 1 vs Winner of semi-final 2
