{"id":475402,"date":"2026-03-29T20:22:30","date_gmt":"2026-03-29T19:22:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/?p=475402"},"modified":"2026-03-29T20:22:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T19:22:33","slug":"the-biggest-party-in-cricket-returns-to-the-oval-this-summer-with-women-and-mens-double-headers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/kennington\/the-biggest-party-in-cricket-returns-to-the-oval-this-summer-with-women-and-mens-double-headers\/","title":{"rendered":"The biggest party in cricket returns to the Oval this summer with women and men&#8217;s double-headers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>The biggest party in cricket is set to return to the Kia Oval in Kennington this summer, bringing a sun-soaked line-up of women and men&#8217;s double-headers to South London.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Kia Oval, home to both the Surrey County Cricket Club\u2019s men\u2019s and women\u2019s teams, has earned its reputation as \u201cThe Home of T20 Cricket,\u201d welcoming more than 100,000 fans across June and July each year.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"69959\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448384\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">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<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Twenty20 (T20) cricket is one of the sport\u2019s most popular and accessible formats, offering a fast-paced spectacle with just 20 overs per side \u2013 compared to the longer 50-over format of traditional one-day matches.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Surrey-winners-KG--840x560.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-449374\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Surrey-winners-KG--840x560.jpg 840w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Surrey-winners-KG--420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Surrey-winners-KG--768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Surrey-winners-KG--1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Surrey-winners-KG--2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Surrey-winners-KG--219x146.jpg 219w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Surrey-winners-KG--1320x880.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Surrey-winners-KG--750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Surrey-winners-KG--1140x760.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">London, England, 27th July, 2025:<br>Surrey women celebrate winning the Vitality Blast final against  Birmingham Bears Women at the Kia Oval, London, England. Credit: Keith Gillard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"477\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Credit-Kia-Oval-1000x477.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-475405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Credit-Kia-Oval-1000x477.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Credit-Kia-Oval-500x238.jpg 500w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Credit-Kia-Oval-768x366.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Credit-Kia-Oval-1536x732.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Credit-Kia-Oval-2048x976.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Credit-Kia-Oval-260x124.jpg 260w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Credit-Kia-Oval-1320x629.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Credit-Kia-Oval-750x357.jpg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Credit-Kia-Oval-1140x543.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Credit- Kia Oval<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/surrey-cricket-whole-team-840x560.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-445328\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/surrey-cricket-whole-team-840x560.jpeg 840w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/surrey-cricket-whole-team-420x280.jpeg 420w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/surrey-cricket-whole-team-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/surrey-cricket-whole-team-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/surrey-cricket-whole-team-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/surrey-cricket-whole-team-1320x880.jpeg 1320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/surrey-cricket-whole-team-750x500.jpeg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/surrey-cricket-whole-team-1140x760.jpeg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The new Surrey Women&#8217;s players at The Kia Oval (Photo by Ben Hoskins\/Getty Images for Surrey CCC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>At the heart of the action is the Vitality Blast tournament, a county tournament played over nine weeks each summer, featuring some of cricket\u2019s top talent.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"68153\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448385\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMjY1NTg1Njk1NCIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWNvbnRlbnQgc291dGgtZW50aXR5LXBsYWNlbWVudCIgc3R5bGU9Im1hcmdpbi1sZWZ0OiBhdXRvO21hcmdpbi1yaWdodDogYXV0bzt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOiBjZW50ZXI7Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtMngxIj4NCjxzY3JpcHQ+DQpnb29nbGV0YWcuY21kLnB1c2goZnVuY3Rpb24oKSB7IGdvb2dsZXRhZy5kaXNwbGF5KCdkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLTJ4MScpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICAgICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Match days at the Oval combine top-class cricket with a lively, family-friendly atmosphere, including food stalls, mascots, and interval entertainment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tickets remain affordable, with standalone women\u2019s matches priced at \u00a310 for adults and just \u00a31 for under-16s. Double-header tickets, which cover both matches, start from \u00a330 for adults, with under-16s also just \u00a31.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71156\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448386\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMzY0MTgyMDY4NyIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1OSBzb3V0aC1lbnRpdHktcGxhY2VtZW50Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtbXB1OSI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHU5Jyk7IH0pOw0KPC9zY3JpcHQ+DQo8L2Rpdj4gICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Last year marked a historic moment for Surrey, who are also known at the Three Feathers, as the club launched its first fully professional women\u2019s team. They made an immediate impact, securing a five-wicket victory over Birmingham Bears. Southwark-born Kira Chathli, who grew up watching her heroes at the Oval, sealed the win, striking the winning runs with 20 balls to spare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The grand finale in July 2025 brought in a record attendance for a women\u2019s county T20, but this year the women\u2019s competition is set to expand even further. Mirroring the men\u2019s format, the finals day will now feature three knockout matches, replacing the previous structure of only an eliminator and a final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The T20 season this year gets underway on 22 May with a \u2018blast off\u2019 double header, where both the men and women\u2019s teams will be up against Lancashire Thunder &amp; Lightning.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following a series of away games taking the women as far as Yorkshire, and the men just across the river to Lord\u2019s Cricket Ground, the Three Feathers women\u2019s team will return home to the Oval in their only standalone fixture on Wednesday 27 May where they will go up against Durham.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71157\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448387\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMjQzNzY3MTYxNiIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1LTEwIHNvdXRoLWVudGl0eS1wbGFjZW1lbnQiPjwhLS0gIC8xNTQ3MjUwNzAsMjI2OTQxOTY5Njkvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cy9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzIC0tPg0KPGRpdiBpZD0iZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCcpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICA8L2Rpdj4=<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>A mega week of entertainment is set for the second double header of the summer on 31 May as the women take on Somerset and the men will play their London rivals, Kent Spitfires.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Towards the end of June, the ICC Women\u2019s World Cup will be hosting three games at the Kia Oval and both T20 Surrey sides will be spending some time on the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In July, two more double headers are lined up with the women going against Warwickshire Bears in the afternoon, followed by the men taking on Sussex Sharks in the evening.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The twelfth and final group game on Sunday 12 July for the Three Feathers will see the women\u2019s team welcome Hampshire Hawks before the men battle with Essex Eagles.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Fixtures at the Oval, available to book online at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.kiaoval.com\">www.kiaoval.com<\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Friday 22 May<\/strong> &#8211; DOUBLE HEADER: Women and men v Lancashire Thunder &amp; Lightning&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Wednesday 27 May<\/strong> &#8211; Women v Durham<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Sunday 31 May<\/strong> &#8211; DOUBLE HEADER: Women v Somerset and Men v Kent Spitfires<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Wednesday 3 June<\/strong> &#8211; Men v Middlesex<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Friday 5 June<\/strong> &#8211; DOUBLE HEADER: Women v Essex Eagles and Men v Hampshire Hawks<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Fri, 26 June<\/strong> &#8211; Warwickshire Bears v Women, Edgbaston<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Wednesday 8 July<\/strong> &#8211; DOUBLE HEADER: Women v Warwickshire Bears and Men v Sussex Sharks<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Sunday 12 July<\/strong> &#8211; DOUBLE HEADER: Women v Hampshire Hawks and Men v Essex Eagles,&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Friday 17 July<\/strong> &#8211; Women\u2019s Finals Day<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"wTzxi1BhQJCAROKguSo97fGyY6PtaVlEnv3ZcIFN8bXUeHLD\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"x2VaHb49BX\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/walworth\/thousands-gather-on-aylesbury-estate-to-release-balloons-in-memory-of-16-year-old-junior-dean\/\">Thousands gather on Aylesbury Estate to release balloons in memory of 16-year-old Junior Dean<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Thousands gather on Aylesbury Estate to release balloons in memory of 16-year-old Junior Dean&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/walworth\/thousands-gather-on-aylesbury-estate-to-release-balloons-in-memory-of-16-year-old-junior-dean\/embed\/#?secret=LZZ4c9nHLL#?secret=x2VaHb49BX\" data-secret=\"x2VaHb49BX\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The biggest party in cricket is set to return to the Kia Oval in Kennington this summer, bringing a sun-soaked line-up of women and men&#8217;s double-headers to South London.&nbsp; The Kia Oval, home to both the Surrey County Cricket Club\u2019s men\u2019s and women\u2019s teams, has earned its reputation as \u201cThe Home of T20 Cricket,\u201d welcoming [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19233,"featured_media":475405,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"subtitle":"Standalone women\u2019s matches priced at \u00a310 for adults and just \u00a31 for under-16s","format":"standard","override":[{"template":"1","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"right-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"top","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","show_post_reading_time":"0","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"0","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_prev_next_post":"1","show_popup_post":"1","show_comment_section":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_author_box":"1","show_inline_post_related":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0"},"jnews_primary_category":{"id":"31"},"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[7375,13594,13539,31,18246,13602,9635,13601],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-475402","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-cricket","category-featured","category-kennington","category-lifestyle","category-news","category-south-london","category-sport"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/475402","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19233"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=475402"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/475402\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":475596,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/475402\/revisions\/475596"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/475405"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=475402"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=475402"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=475402"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}