2024 CEC Preview: Sunrisers v Western Storm
THE MATCH
Western Storm take on Sunrisers in the Charlotte Edwards Cup at the Cloud County Ground , Chelmsford tomorrow (Wednesday June 19th).
Play is due to start at 11:30am.
Tickets 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.
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 Katie Jones (exams) but Heather Knight returns to the squad.
A starting XI will be named from the following squad: Sophie Luff (c), Heather Knight, Emma Corney, Fran Wilson, Nat Wraith, Dani Gibson, Alex Griffiths, Niamh Holland, Jess Hazell, Mollie Robbins, Gemma Lane, Lauren Filer, Issy Wong, Amanda Jade Wellington, Chloe Skelton, Ellie Anderson, Sophia Smale, Claire Nicholas, Lola Harris, Imogen Cooper and Emily Geach.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Ahead of the game, Head Coach, Trevor Griffin said: “Not only is this the final Charlotte Edwards Cup match for Western Storm, it’s the last competitive T20 game for us. That means that we’ve got something to play for in terms of finishing our journey and our story in T20 cricket with a win.
“It’s definitely not the campaign that we set out for at the start of the season. Having said that, there have been some real positives, certainly with the ball. We’ve showcased how well our fielding has progressed but we just haven’t fired with the bat.
“Winning this game matters. It matters to everyone involved with the squad. Everyone has put a huge amount of effort in all throughout the winter. Day in, day out the players are looking at ways to improve and get better but ultimately, they know that we haven’t performed to the best of our ability.
“For one last time on Wednesday, we’ll be going out there and giving everything we’ve got to try and finish off with a win.”
THE OPPOSITION
Captain: Grace Scrivens
Head Coach: Andy Tennant
2023 finish: Eighth
2023 highest run-scorer: Cordelia Griffith (205)
2023 highest wicket-taker: Mady Villiers (10)
The big question: Sunrisers’ transformation into serious contenders in 50-over cricket during the past year has been remarkable. Can they transfer that winning habit to the T20 format, having completed the tournament’s past two editions without a victory?
Player to watch: Having impressed in last winter’s Women’s Big Bash League, Australian seamer Nicola Hancock brings pace and variation to Sunrisers’ bowling attack. The 28-year-old will represent a potent wicket-taking weapon in both the powerplay and death overs.
Young gun: Academy graduate Amu Surenkumar, still only 17, contributes runs in the middle order as well as providing a useful medium-pace option and will surely benefit from her recent experience as part of England Under-19s’ T20 side in Sri Lanka.
Final thought: While Dane van Niekerk’s planned return was eventually shelved, Sunrisers can still turn to fast-scoring batters like Cordelia Griffith, Grace Scrivens and Jodi Grewcock, along with a range of spin options and a top-quality seamer in Nicola Hancock. They should have enough to be competitive and win some games, even if a knockout place might remain elusive.
CLASSIC MATCH
The last time that the two sides met in this competition at the Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford was in May 2022.
It was a dramatic match that Western Storm won by one wicket.
Sophie Luff won the toss and invited the home side to bat first.
Cordelia Griffith and Grace Scrivens shared an opening stand of 50, with the latter going on to top score with 56 as Sunrisers posted a total of 160 for five from their 20 overs.
Storm lost early wickets and found themselves on 29 for three.
Wickets continued to fall, but Katie George (34 from 23) and Nat Wraith (27 from 16 balls) got the innings back on track.
When Lauren Filer was the ninth batter dismissed, 16 runs were still needed from nine balls.
Alex Griffiths (25 from 13) was the hero as Storm won off the final ball by the narrowest of margins.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
For further matchday information please use the link below to visit the official Essex CCC website.
NEXT MATCH
Western Storm’s next match is on Sunday June 30th when we take on Southern Vipers at the 1st Central County Ground, Hove in the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy.
Tickets are still available.
