KIA Super League Preview: Western Storm v Surrey Stars

THE MATCH

Western Storm will be looking to make it two wins out of two in the 2018 Kia Super League when they take on Surrey Stars at Cheltenham College tomorrow (Thursday).

Play is due to get underway at 2:30pm

Tickets are still available for this match and can be purchased here.

Tickets cost just £5 for adults and £1 for juniors (16 and under). There will be tickets available on the day.

This match is part of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club’s Cheltenham Cricket Festival. For more information about the Festival please click here

HOW CAN I KEEP UP TO DATE?

You can keep up to date with the action Twitter

In addition to this a report on the day’s play along with quotes will be posted after the close.

HEAD TO HEAD

The two sides have met on three occasions with Western Storm winning twice and Surrey Stars winning once.

The last time the two sides faced each other was in the semi-final in 2017 when Western Storm triumphed by three wickets.

Surrey captain Natalie Sciver won the toss but the Stars found run making difficult against tight bowling from Western Storm as they were restricted to 100 for seven. Anya Shrubsole was the pick of the bowlers, claiming three for 22.

The Storm also struggled, slipping to 17 for four with Marzanne Kapp returning figures of 4-0-11-4. However, Stafanie Taylor guided her team to a place in the final with 37 not out.

TEAM NEWS

Head Coach, Trevor Griffin will pick the starting XI from the following squad:

Heather Knight, Anya Shrubsole, Fran Wilson, Stafanie Taylor, Smriti Mandhana, Rachel Priest, Sophie Luff, Freya Davies, Claire Nicholas, Lauren Parfitt, Danielle Gibson, Lissy McLeod, Amara Carr, Naomi Dattani and Rebecca Silk.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Ahead of the match Head Coach, Trevor Griffin said: “Surrey Stars lost their opening game to Southern Vipers at the weekend so they will be looking to get their season up and running and will be looking to hit us hard. They’ll also be looking to avenge their defeat against us in last year’s semi-final, so it’s going to be a tough game.

“They’ve got a strong squad which has been boosted by the arrival of Sarah Taylor and everyone knows that she can turn a game with the bat or the gloves. They’ve also got Nat Sciver and Laura Marsh plus Lizelle Lee, Dane van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp. In addition they have a number of exciting young players like Bryony Smith and Sophia Dunkley.

“It’ll be a tough game, but that’s what we want and hopefully it’ll be a good spectacle for all those who come to the Festival.”

WHAT TIME DO GATES OPEN?

Gates will open at 12:30am with play due to get underway 2:30pm.

PLANNING YOUR JOURNEY

All the information that you need about getting to the Cheltenham Festival can be found by clicking here

IS THIS MATCH INCLUDED IN MY MEMBERSHIP?

This match is included in Somerset CCC and Gloucestershire CCC Memberships.