England Win Toss and Bowl First in Second ODI Against Ireland at Derby
England captain Charlie Dean won the toss and chose to bowl first in the second women's ODI against Ireland at Derby on 3 September 2026, sticking with a formula that served her side handsomely in the series opener The Guardian.
Dean said she was keen to chase again after winning the toss, while Ireland captain Gaby Lewis — who would have batted first anyway — was happy to take the invitation The Guardian. The match, scheduled for a 1pm BST start at The County Ground, Derby, is part of the three-match Metro Bank ODI Series.
The first ODI at Leicester two days earlier set a high bar. England chased down 282 — their highest-ever total in women's ODI run chases — with 71 balls to spare, meaning nearly 12 overs left in the innings when the winning runs came The Guardian. Maia Bouchier led the pursuit with 104 off 95 balls, her third international century, while Sophia Dunkley's 73 off 61 balls at the top of the order gave the chase its early impetus The Guardian.
An ODI, for the uninitiated, is a one-day international — each side bats once for a maximum of 50 overs (six balls each), and whichever team scores more runs wins. Chasing simply means batting second, with the target already on the board.
England fielded an experimental side in Derby, with Alice Capsey — more commonly an allrounder — taking the wicketkeeping gloves The Guardian. Dean was named ODI captain for the series by the ECB in August, leading a squad announced ahead of the three-match contest ECB.
Ireland, facing the second-ranked ODI side in the world according to Cricket Ireland's own assessment, came into the series as clear underdogs Cricket Ireland. Their batting in the opener gave them something to build on — a total of 282 is no small effort — but the gulf in chasing quality was stark.
The third and final ODI is scheduled for 6 September Cricket Ireland. Live coverage of the series has been available across BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sport website and app ECB.
For Ireland, the challenge is straightforward. Find a way to take wickets through England's middle order, or risk another chase that finishes with overs to spare. For England, the opportunity is equally clear — a series win at Derby would turn the third ODI into a chance to rotate and experiment further before stiffer tests ahead.
