2024 CEC Preview: The Blaze v Western Storm
THE MATCH
Western Storm take on The Blaze in the Charlotte Edwards Cup at the Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester tomorrow (Friday June 7th).
This match is part of a double header with Leicestershire Foxes taking on Durham in the Vitality Blast.
The Blaze v Western Storm will begin at 1pm with the Vitality Blast clash getting underway at 6:30pm.
Tickets are still available for this double header.
HOW CAN I KEEP UP TO DATE?
A live stream of the match will be made available and you can keep up to date via our match centre.
In addition to this, a report on the day’s play along with quotes will be posted on this website.
THE OPPOSITION
Captain: Kirstie Gordon
Head Coach: Chris Guest
2023 finish: Runners-up
2023 highest run-scorer: Georgie Boyce (200)
2023 highest wicket-taker: Nadine de Klerk (15)
The big questions: Having won all their matches with the exception of the final in 2023, The Blaze clearly like the short format. A slow start has hampered them in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy this year and some confidence-boosting early wins look key.
Player to watch: Fresh from leading Scotland Women to their historic qualification for this year’s T20 World Cup, all-rounder Kathryn Bryce will be looking to back up her form with a big contribution in the domestic tournament.
Young gun: The 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Ella Claridge has impressed in The Blaze’s 50-over side in the absence of Scotland international Sarah Bryce, hitting a career-best unbeaten 64 in the win over Western Storm. She surely justifies a place even with Bryce back.
Final thought: Injuries and international call-ups undermined The Blaze’s start in 50-overs cricket, leaving them short in the batting, but the return of the Bryce sisters from Scotland duty and 2023 top scorer Georgie Boyce from injury – plus the signing of Australia’s Heather Graham to cover Nadine de Klerk’s absence with South Africa – should make them competitive again and another appearance at Finals Day should not be discounted.
TEAM NEWS
Western Storm will be without Dani Gibson, but Heather Knight and Lauren Filer will be available for this fixture
A starting XI will be named from the following squad: Sophie Luff (c), Heather Knight, Emma Corney, Fran Wilson, Nat Wraith, Alex Griffiths, Niamh Holland, Jess Hazell, Mollie Robbins, Gemma Lane, Lauren Filer, Issy Wong, Amanda Jade Wellington, Chloe Skelton, Ellie Anderson, Sophia Smale, Katie Jones, Claire Nicholas, Lola Harris, Imogen Cooper and Emily Geach.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Ahead of the game, Head Coach, Trevor Griffin said: “Over the course of the summer we’ve played some really good cricket and just not quite got over the line in a number of games, so I was delighted with the win last time out. I thought our bowling and fielding was the best I’ve seen it this year, and we ground out a competitive score with the bat. It was a good performance but we won’t be getting ahead of ourselves, we are just focusing on this game against The Blaze.
“The Blaze are going well at the moment, but we just need to focus on what we’re doing. We’ve been doing some good things this year and we just need to keep doing more of that whilst tidying up some of those one percenters. Training has gone well this week and everyone is excited to be getting back out there and we’re determined to get another victory.
“To have Heather back in the squad is obviously great news. You always get a lift when your England players return. We saw that when Lauren and Dani were available earlier in the campaign. She’s a true professional in the way that she goes about things, and the players will learn from having her around.”
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
If you are planning to attend this match, you can find out everything that you need to know via the Leicestershire CCC website.
NEXT MATCH
Western Storm are next in action on Sunday June 9th when we take on Southern Vipers at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol in the Charlotte Edwards Cup.
This match is part of a double header with Gloucestershire taking on Sussex Sharks in the Vitality Blast.
Tickets are still available.
