2023 Charlotte Edwards Cup Preview: Western Storm v The Blaze
THE MATCH
Western Storm take on The Blaze in the Charlotte Edwards Cup at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff tomorrow (June 7th).
This 20-over match will get underway at 2:30pm.
The match is a double header with Glamorgan taking on Surrey in the Vitality Blast from 6:30pm.
Entry is free to Glamorgan Members.
Tickets are still available and can be purchased for just £15 before midnight tonight (June 6th). Groups of six or more are £10 per person. Children’s tickets are £3.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Gates will open at 1:30pm.
Everything you need to know about attending this match can be found at the Glamorgan CCC visitor guide.
There will be entertainment and activities for all ages on the Pavilion Lawn and a selection of Street Food including Halal, Vegetarian and Vegan food available.
There will also be player signing sessions after both the Western Storm game and the Glamorgan game.
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.
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: “I was delighted by the way we went about things on Sunday and we go into tomorrow’s game full of enthusiasm. It’s always good to be back in Cardiff. We enjoyed being here earlier in the year, and hopefully we can get another win on the board at Sophia Gardens and set things up nicely for Glamorgan in the double header.
“It’s still mathematically possible for us to qualify for the next stage, but a couple of results have to go our way as well. All we can do is look after our game and then see what happens after that. We’ve spoken about it at length and we are clear about what we want to do and how we want to play. We will be looking to take care of our part of it, and then we’ll look at what else is happening at the end of play.”
Captain, Sophie Luff added: “We’re well aware that we’re still in the running. We need a few things to go our way and we know that The Blaze are a well drilled outfit. It’s always nice to play in Cardiff and it’s great that it’s a double header. We love playing in these games and in front of good crowds.
“We had a good conversation today about how we want to be going about things and how we might achieve what we want to achieve. We can’t control what other teams are doing, so tomorrow is all about playing to our strengths and doing what we do. We’ve had two good wins in the last two games, so we’ve got good momentum. Hopefully, we’re striking at the right time. You never know what might happen. We’re still in the mix, that’s the main thing. We’ll see what happens tomorrow.”
THE OPPOSITION
The Blaze
Captain: Kirstie Gordon
Overseas player: Nadine de Klerk (South Africa)
2022 finish: Fourth (Group B)
2022 leading runscorer: Tammy Beaumont (136)
2022 leading wicket taker: Piepa Cleary (7)
Key winter moves: The lack of top-level experience that worked against Lightning has been addressed, with England’s Sarah Glenn and Nat Sciver-Brunt joining team-mate Tammy Beaumont in the Blaze squad along with South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk, who was part of the team that knocked out England at the semi-final stage of the T20 World Cup in February.
Player to watch: Nadine de Klerk’s contribution to The Blaze’s great start in the 50-over competition has included a career-best seven for 33 against Northern Diamonds and she brings a fine T20 pedigree, having helped South Africa reach the final of the T20 World Cup after taking the key wicket of new team-mate Nat Sciver-Brunt in the semi-final defeat of England.
