2023 Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy Preview: Storm v Stars
THE MATCH
Western Storm take on South East Stars in the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol tomorrow (Monday May 1st).
This 50-over match will get underway at 10:30am.
Tickets for this match are still available.
HOW CAN I KEEP UP TO DATE?
You can keep up to date via the Western Storm website.
In addition to this, a report on the day’s play along with quotes will be posted on this website.
HEAD TO HEAD
The two sides have met on four occasions in 50-over cricket, with both sides winning twice.
Western Storm’s highest team score in the series is 247 all out at Cheltenham in 2022, whilst for South East Stars it is 283 for eight in the same game.
The highest individual innings for Western Storm is 104 not out by Sophie Luff at Bristol in 2020, whilst for South East Stars it’s 92 by both Alice Davidson-Richards and Sophie Dunkley at the Kia Oval in 2021.
The best bowling figures in the series for Western Storm is five for 54 by Chloe Skelton at Cheltenham in 2022. For South East Stars it’s four for 33 by Alice Davidson-Richards in the same match.
TEAM NEWS
A starting XI will be named from the following players: Sophie Luff (c), Danielle Gibson, Orla Prendergast, Heather Knight, Emma Corney, Fran Wilson, Claire Nicholas, Nat Wraith, Alex Griffiths, Nicole Harvey, Lauren Filer, Mollie Robbins, Chloe Skelton, Sophia Smale, Niamh Holland, Izzy Patel, Katie Jones, Isla Thomson, and Rebecca Odgers.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Ahead of the match, Western Storm Head Coach, Trevor Griffin said: “There are no easy games in this competition. South East Stars are well drilled and are well coached by Johann Myburgh and his team. It’ll be a tough game, but if we execute our skills and back ourselves to play the way that we want to play, it will be an exciting encounter.
“We’ve trained at Bristol all winter and as a team we see the Seat Unique Stadium as one of our home venues. We always get a good crowd at Bristol so we’re looking forward to the support, and it’s nice to have two home games over the bank holiday weekend.”
THE OPPOSITION
South East Stars
Captain: Bryony Smith
Head Coach: Johann Myburgh
2022 finish: Play-off finalists
2022 highest run-scorer: Bryony Smith 226
2022 highest wicket-taker: Alice Davidson-Richards and Eva Gray (nine)
Key winter moves: South African all-rounder Paige Scholfield has been the big arrival over the winter from rivals Southern Vipers. Her 11 wickets at 20 apiece, plus 175 runs at 25 were key to guiding Vipers to the final of this competition last season. Scholfield will fill the void left by the exit of Eva Gray to Sunrisers, while Chloe Brewer and wicketkeeper Rhianna Southby have departed for Central Sparks and Southern Vipers respectively.
Player to watch: Aside from the usual suspects keep an eye on wicketkeeper Kira Chathli. The 23-year-old south Londoner firmly established herself as Stars’ No 1 behind the timbers in 2022, leading to the departure of previous incumbent Rhianna Southby. There was also a first List-A half-century and some quick cameos in the Charlotte Edwards Cup suggesting a leap forward bat in hand to go with her developing glove-work.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
If you are attending the match please visit the Official Gloucestershire Website for further matchday information.
NEXT MATCH
Western Storm’s next match is on Saturday May 6th when we take on Southern Vipers in the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy at The 1st Central County Ground, Hove.
