2023 Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy Preview: Blaze v Storm
THE MATCH
Western Storm take on The Blaze in the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy at the Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester tomorrow (Wednesday May 10th).
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 teams have faced each other twice in the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint competition with Western Storm coming out on top on both occasions.
The first match took place at Bristol in 2021 with Storm winning by 62 runs.
Lightning won the toss and elected to field.
Sophie Luff made 70 as Storm posted a total of 228 for seven from their allotted overs.
The hosts then dismissed Lightning for 166 with 8.4 overs to spare.
The second match was held at the Haslegrave Ground, Loughborough last year.
After winning the toss, the hosts elected to field.
Storm posted 260 for nine from their 50 overs, thanks in no small part to 48 from Sophie Luff and 43 from Fran Wilson.
Rain meant that Lightning were chasing a revised target of 242 from 46 overs.
When play was halted, the home side had reached 166 for nine from 34.2 overs giving Storm the win by 75 runs (D/L method).
TEAM NEWS
Storm will once again be without Captain, Sophie Luff (thumb) and a starting XI will be named from the following players: Danielle Gibson (c), 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: “Obviously, it was frustrating not to get any play at the weekend after travelling to Sussex, but we can’t control the weather. The players have trained well this week and are keen to get out there and show what they can do against the Blaze.
“The Blaze have started the season well and it will be a tough game for the girls against what is a strong squad. I think that we’ve shown glimpses of what we’re capable of so far this season and if we execute our skills across the three facets of the game in the way that I know we can, then I am confident that we can take something from the game.
“With the Charlotte Edwards Cup on the horizon, we are keen to finish this part of the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy on a high.”
THE OPPOSITION
THE BLAZE
Captain: Kirstie Gordon
Head Coach: Chris Guest
2022 finish: Sixth
2022 highest runscorer: Kathryn Bryce (233)
2022 highest wicket-taker: Grace Ballinger & Kirstie Gordon (nine)
Key winter moves: Blaze, the new name for the Lightning team that finished sixth last season, have also bolstered their squad by signing World Cup stars Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sarah Glenn to join their England team-mate Tammy Beaumont, with South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk, capped 61 times for her country across all formats, coming in as an important overseas addition.
Player to watch: The 18-year-old leg-spinner Josie Groves, who made her senior county debut for Northamptonshire aged just 14, is an up-and-coming talent. She has been part of the Lightning squad for two years, played for the England side that finished runners-up in last winter’s inaugural Women’s Under-19 World Cup and signed her first professional contract this year. She took five wickets and recorded a maiden half-century in last season’s competition.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
If you are attending the match please visit the Official Leicestershire Website for further matchday information.
NEXT MATCH
Western Storm’s next match is on Friday May 19th when we take on Northern Diamonds in the Charlotte Edwards Cup at Headingley, Leeds.
