2023 Charlotte Edwards Cup Preview: Sunrisers v Western Storm
THE MATCH
Western Storm take on Sunrisers in the Charlotte Edwards Cup at the County Ground, Northampton tomorrow (Wednesday May 31st).
This T20 match will get underway at 2:30pm.
Tickets for this match are still available.
HOW CAN I KEEP UP TO DATE?
You can keep up to date with the match 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 T20 cricket, with Western Storm winning three of the matches and Sunrisers winning one.
The last time that the two sides met in T20 cricket was at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton in May last year when Storm came out on top by 41 runs.
Sophie Luff won the toss and elected to bat.
Despite losing Fi Morris to the second ball of the match, Luff and Heather Knight gave Storm a good platform by adding 69 for the second wicket. Knight was the player to fall for 34, but Luff made an outstanding 78 from just 54 balls. A rapid 26 from Dani Gibson then helped to ensure that the hosts posted a total of 169 for five.
Gibson and Claire Nicholas helped to reduce Sunrisers to 11 for two inside three overs, and when Gibson bowled Jo-Ann Gardner the visitors were 29 for three in the seventh over.
Naomi Dattani (53) and Kelly Castle (40 not out) gave Sunrisers hope, but the Storm attack restricted them to 128 for six from their allotted overs.
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: “Despite a narrow defeat against South East Stars, there were plenty of positives to take from Sunday’s game. I was pleased with the way we went about our fielding innings. We put the ball in some really good areas and we were very good in the field. We got off to a good start with the bat, but I think we showed a bit of naivety in terms of our decision making.
“We go out there to win every game. That’s how we set ourselves up. We will lose some games, but that’s okay if we learn from that. What I’m looking for this week is a response with the bat to show that we have learned from the last couple of games.”
THE OPPOSITION
SUNRISERS
Captain: Kelly Castle
Overseas player: Dane van Niekerk (South Africa)
2022 finish: Fourth (Group A)
2022 leading runscorer: Naomi Dattani (157)
2022 leading wicket taker: Kelly Castle & Grace Scrivens (7)
Key winter moves: Dane van Niekerk’s decision to call time on her international career in March was eagerly welcomed in the Sunrisers camp, with the former South Africa captain quickly snapped up for the entire tournament. Sunrisers will hope Van Niekerk’s glittering T20 record – with 65 wickets and close on 2,000 runs for her country – can galvanise their campaign.
The big question: The only way is up for Sunrisers, having lost all six of their T20 fixtures last year and 10 of their last 11. To improve, developing a more ruthless mentality will be crucial – last season they surrendered winning positions too often, most notably against Western Storm when four overthrows presented their opponents with a last-ball victory.
Player to watch: Van Niekerk’s arrival brings another option to an already well-stocked spin cabinet, but the standout vintage could well be leg-spinner Abtaha Maqsood. The Scotland international has already caught the eye with her flight and variation in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy this season and should prove an effective weapon in the post-powerplay overs.
Final thought: Sunrisers’ bowling looks strong enough to compete, but they will be reliant on Van Niekerk’s knowhow and explosive power at the top of the order to deliver runs on the board. If players like Grace Scrivens, Mady Villiers and Jo Gardner are given the opportunity to bat around her, Sunrisers could spring a surprise or two.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
If you are attending the match please visit the Official Northants Website for further matchday information.
NEXT MATCH
Western Storm’s next match is on Sunday June 4th when we take on South East Stars in the Charlotte Edwards Cup at The Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol. This match is a double header and also features Gloucestershire v Middlesex in the Vitality Blast.
