2024 CEC Preview: Western Storm v South East Stars
THE MATCH
Western Storm begin our Charlotte Edwards Cup campaign tomorrow (Sunday May 19th) when we take on South East Stars at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol.
This 20-over match will get underway at 2:30pm with gates opening at 1:30pm.
This match is included in 2024 Western Storm Membership.
Tickets for this fixture are still available.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
For further matchday information please use the below link to the official Gloucestershire CCC visitor guide.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE CCC VISITOR GUIDE
HOW CAN I KEEP UP TO DATE?
You can keep up to date via the Western Storm website.
A live stream of the match will also be available.
In addition to this, a report on the day’s play along with quotes will be posted on this website.
TEAM NEWS
Western Storm will be without England Internationals Heather Knight, Lauren Filer and Dani Gibson but Emma Corney returns to the squad after recovering from a shoulder injury.
A starting XI will be named from the following squad: Sophie Luff (c), Emma Corney, Fran Wilson, Nat Wraith, Katie Jones, Alex Griffiths, Niamh Holland, Jess Hazell, Mollie Robbins, Gemma Lane, Amanda Jade Wellington, Chloe Skelton, Sophia Smale, Ellie Anderson, Claire Nicholas, Lola Harris, Imogen Cooper and Emily Geach.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Ahead of the game, Western Storm Captain, Sophie Luff said: “We go into the Charlotte Edwards Cup with a fresh slate and we know that we’ve played some good cricket so far this season without getting the results that we think we deserve. It’s a new competition and we’ll be looking to hit the ground running on Sunday at Bristol.
“The mood in the camp is really positive. We’ve definitely come a long way as a team from where we were last year. Several individuals have really kicked on over the winter and we’ve certainly seen the evidence of that so far this season. Hopefully, we’ll see more of that in this competition as well.
“We’ve got a good record in T20 cricket dating back to the KSL days and those of us who were involved back then are desperate for more silverware. The younger players will have grown up watching the team win trophies and wanting to be a part of that and now they’ve got the opportunity to do that. We’ve got a great chance to put a real marker down this year.”
THE OPPOSITION
Captain: Bryony Smith
Head Coach: Johann Myburgh
2023 finish: Fifth
2023 highest run-scorer: Bryony Smith (256)
2023 highest wicket-taker: Danielle Gregory & Phoebe Franklin (7)
The big question: Traditionally, Stars have been disrupted in the shorter format by England call-ups, but with only Alice Capsey on duty versus Pakistan can they recapture the form which saw them become inaugural winners in 2021.
Player to watch: Sophia Dunkley – Overlooked by England, if Dunkley can return to her destructive best, she will lend support to Bryony Smith and a top order which lost three wickets in the powerplay three times last season.
Young gun: Alexa Stonehouse – Fresh from her exploits at the Women’s U19s World Cup, Stonehouse offers the prospect of wickets in the powerplay, plus some power hitting either down the order or even employed as a pinch-hitter should that role be required.
Final thought: Even making allowances for international call-ups, Stars were underwhelming in this competition in 2023. Their batting either misfired in the powerplay or failed to build on good starts given by Bryony Smith. They also had no bowler among the top 10 wicket-takers.
NEXT MATCH
Western Storm’s next match is on Wednesday May 22nd when we take on Central Sparks at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton in the Charlotte Edwards Cup.
Tickets for this match are also still available.
OUR HISTORY AT BRISTOL
Ahead of the game, we thought we would take a look back on our impressive T20 record at the home of Gloucestershire CCC.
In total we have completed six T20 matches at Bristol, winning five and only losing on one occasion!
That’s a win percentage of 83%!
Ahead of Sunday’s clash, lets take a look back at some of our T20 highlights at Bristol.
2016
On August 7th we welcomed Surrey Stars to Bristol in the Kia Super League.
Stars Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt won the toss, elected to bat and top scored with 90 not out as the visitors posted a total of 161 for six.
In reply, Storm slipped to 17 for three in the fourth over. However, a 76-run partnership between Staphanie Taylor and Lizelle Lee (53) got the innings back on track. Taylor went on to make 74 not out from 41 balls, and a rapid 21 from 14 balls from Sophie Luff helped to see Storm home by five wickets.
2017
Lancashire Thunder were the visitors to Bristol in August 2017 as Storm made it two wins from two T20 matches at Nevil Road.
Heather Knight won the toss and invited the visitors to have a bat.
Amy Satterthwaite top scored with 44 as Thunder finished on 122 for five.
In reply, Knight and Rachel Priest (52) shared an opening stand of 60 to put the hosts on the front foot.8 Once again it was Luff (24*) who saw Storm over the line to claim another five-wicket victory.
2019
Loughborough Lightning made the trip to Bristol in August 2019 for this KSL fixture which saw the home side come out on top by 40 runs.
After being put in to bat, Storm posted a total of 158 for four from their allotted overs. Priest top scored with 55 whilst Knight added a vital 45.
The Storm bowlers then ripped through the Lightning batters as the visitors were dismissed for just 118. Freya Davies starred with the ball claiming four for 27 as Strom claimed the bonus point victory.
Just seven days after that convincing win over Loughborough Lightning, Storm were back at Bristol to take on Southern Vipers. The opposition were different, but the result was the same as the hosts claimed a 15-run victory.
After electing to bat first, Knight made 61 and shared a third wicket partnership of 115 with Fran Wilson (50*) as Storm finished on 170 for three.
Danielle Wyatt made a quick half century, but wickets continually fell around her as Vipers were restricted to 155 for nine.
Davies was again the pick of the bowlers with four for 18.
2023
Western Storm welcomed Central Sparks to the Seat Unique Stadium last June and secured a comprehensive seven-wicket victory.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first but Dani Gibson claimed four for 23 as Sparks were limited to 135 for six from their 20 overs.
Despite being reduced to 35 for two in the fifth over, Orla Prendergast made 46 not out as Storm reached their target with four balls to spare.
