2023 Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy Preview: Storm v Sunrisers
THE MATCH
Western Storm take on Sunrisers in the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy at Cheltenham College tomorrow (Monday July 24th).
This 50-over match will get underway at 10:30am.
This fixture is part of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club’s Cheltenham Festival.
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 two sides have met on four occasions in the competition, with Western Storm coming out on top in all four matches.
Western Storm’s highest team score in the series is 313 for four at Bristol in 2021, whilst for Sunrisers it is 277 all out in the same game.
The highest individual innings for Western Storm is 157 not out by Sophie Luff at Bristol last year, whilst for Sunrisers it’s 74 by Cordelia Griffith at the Cloud County Ground in 2022.
The best bowling figures in the series for Western Storm is five for 26 by Fi Morris at Chelmsford in 2020. For Sunrisers it’s two for 33 by Mady Villiers at the Cloud County Ground in 2022.
TEAM NEWS
A starting XI will be named from the following players: Sophie Luff (c), Emma Corney, Fran Wilson, Piepa Cleary, Claire Nicholas, Nat Wraith, Alex Griffiths, Nicole Harvey, Mollie Robbins, Chloe Skelton, Sophia Smale, Niamh Holland, Izzy Patel, Katie Jones, Isla Thomson, Phoebe Graham and Rebecca Odgers.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Ahead of the match, Western Storm Captain, Sophie Luff said: “Cheltenham College is a special place to play. It’s a beautiful ground and we really enjoy playing there. Games like this are what Western Storm is all about. It’s about taking cricket all across the region. Festivals are such a tradition in cricket, so to be a part of that is great.
“We’ve had some close games with Sunrisers over the years and have been on the right end of the results. Hopefully, we can continue that at Cheltenham and get that win under our belts.
“It’s important to finish strongly ahead of the break for The Hundred. We’ll all be going off to different environments over the next month, so I think it’s really important to get some momentum, even though it will be put on hold for a few weeks because when we all come back together and finish the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy strongly.”
THE OPPOSITION
SUNRISERS
Captain: Kelly Castle
Head Coach: Andy Tennant
2022 finish: Eighth
2022 highest run-scorer: Grace Scrivens (297)
2022 highest wicket-taker: Grace Scrivens (13)
Key winter moves: Sunrisers pulled off something of a coup by signing former South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk, who is available from mid-May until late July. They have also strengthened their bowling line-up with the arrival of seamer Eva Gray – South East Stars’ leading wicket-taker in last year’s tournament – while Scotland all-rounder Saskia Horley joins the side for their first five games.
Player to watch: Grace Scrivens was the breakout star of Sunrisers’ campaign in 2022, hitting four half-centuries at the top of the order as well as heading the wicket-taking charts ahead of fellow off-spinner Villiers. The 19-year-old captained England to the Under-19 T20 World Cup final earlier this year and it’s surely only a matter of time before full international honours follow.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
If you are attending the match please visit the Gloucestershire CCC Website for further matchday information.
