2023 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Preview: Storm v Sparks
THE MATCH
Western Storm take on Central Sparks in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy at the Cooper Associates County Ground tomorrow (Wednesday September 13th).
This 50-over match will get underway at 10:30am.
Gates will open at 9:30am
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.
A live stream of the match will also be available via the Official Storm website.
In association with Vertu Motors, Somerset County Cricket Club and Western Storm will be providing radio ear pieces to enable Members and supporters to enjoy our live ball-by-ball match commentary. These will be available to purchase at a cost of £12 and these will last all season.
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 Heather Knight, Lauren Filer and Dani Gibson who are all on international duty.
A starting XI will be named from the following squad: Sophie Luff (c), Emma Corney, Fran Wilson, Claire Nicholas, Nat Wraith, Alex Griffiths, Nicole Harvey, Mollie Robbins, Chloe Skelton, Sophia Smale, Niamh Holland, Izzy Patel, Katie Jones, Isla Thomson, Rebecca Odgers and Gemma Lane.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Ahead of the game, Western Storm Captain, Sophie Luff said: “I think we showed good fight in our innings against Diamonds and we’ve had a couple of days to reset and review. We go again tomorrow and hopefully we can execute a little bit better at the death with the ball and again be positive with the bat.
“We’ve got two games left and we will be doing everything that we can to finish the season how we want to. It’s not been the campaign that we wanted, but we need to look ahead to next year. We’ve got promising players coming through our ranks and it’s going to be an important winter for the team. Hopefully, all that can lead into a really exciting summer for us next year.
“This is our last home game of the season and I’m pleased that it’s at Taunton. We had a lot of support on Sunday and hopefully we will get the same tomorrow. We’re all desperate to give our supporters the win that we all want to see.”
THE OPPOSITION
CENTRAL SPARKS
Captain: Eve Jones
Head coach: Lloyd Tennant
2022 finish: Fifth
2022 highest run-scorer: Abbey Freeborn (227 runs)
2022 highest wicket-taker: Grace Potts (10 wickets)
Key winter moves: Sparks have been busy throughout the close-season, strengthening the squad with early winter moves to secure left-arm fast bowler Katie George and top-order batter Chloe Brewer and more recently adding the prestige signing of experienced Australian batting all-rounder Erin Burns who will be available from early May to the end of July.
Player to watch: Hannah Baker – Hannah’s leg spin was one of the standouts in England Under-19s’ World Cup campaign in South Africa during the winter. She finished third top wicket-taker in the tournament as England reached the final and will be looking to follow that up with a productive season for Sparks.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
If you are attending the match please see the SCCC Visitor Guide for further matchday information.
Gates will open at 9:30am. Entry to the Cooper Associates County Ground will be via the Jack White Gates and the Brian Rose Gates ONLY.
SCCC Members can claim their free ticket via their online account under ‘advantages’. Member Only seating will be available on the upper tier of the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion.
Ticket buyers can print and download their online tickets via their SCCC account.
All ticket or Membership collections will be from the Jack White Gates (St James Street).
This match is Western Storm Schools Day. Around 1000 local school children will be joining us for this match.
Seating will be available in the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion, The Ondaatje Stands (schools only), Gimblett’s Hill and sections of the Somerset Stand.
The Club Enquiries Desk will be based in the Reception of the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion and not in the Andrew Caddick Pavilion.
Matchday food and drink will be available from the air conditioned Stragglers Coffee House and from the concession unit situated on the upper tier of the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion. Hot food will be served from 11am.
There will be no access to the outfield during the interval.
Due to the busy nature of a matchday, our telephone lines will closed for the duration of the game.
NEXT MATCH
Western Storm’s next match is on Saturday September 16th when they take on Thunder at Emirates Old Trafford in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.
Tickets for this match are still available.
