2024 CEC Preview: Western Storm v Central Sparks
THE MATCH
Western Storm take on Central Sparks in the Charlotte Edwards Cup tomorrow (Wednesday May 22nd).
Tickets for this match are still available.
SCHEDULED HOURS OF PLAY:
First Innings: 6:30pm to 7:45pm
Interval: 7:45pm to 8:00pm
Second Innings: 8:00pm to 9:15pm
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This match is included in all full SCCC Memberships and Western Storm Membership.
The Member areas for this fixture are:
- The Hildreth Stand
- The Lord Botham Stand
- The Colin Atkinson Lower
The Long Room will be closed, but Long Room Members may access The 1875 Club.
Gates will open at 5:30pm.
Bag searches will be in operation and spectators are reminded that no glass or sharp implements will be permitted within the Cooper Associates County Ground.
For full Ground Regulations please visit the link below:
Ticket buyers can download their online tickets via their SCCC account.
All ticket or Membership collections will be from the Jack White Gates (St James Street).
The Club Enquiries Desk will be based in the Reception of the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion and not in the Andrew Caddick Pavilion on matchdays.
Due to the busy nature of a matchday, our telephone lines will reopen at 10am on Thursday May 23rd.
Information on everything that you will need for a matchday at SCCC, including how to redeem your guest passes, how to download your e-tickets and how to use the SCCC Ticket App can all be found in our Visiting Guide.
The Brian Rose Gates will remain closed for this fixture.
The Somerset Stand, the upper tier of the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion and the Trade Nation Stand will be closed to the public for this match.
Scorecards will be available from Reception in the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion.
CATERING
Matchday food and drink will be available from the concession unit in the lower tier of the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion.
HOW CAN I KEEP UP TO DATE?
A live stream of the match will be made available via this website.
In association with Vertu Motors, Somerset County Cricket Club 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 from Reception in the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion 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.
THE OPPOSITION
Captain: Eve Jones
Head Coach: Lloyd Tennant
2023 finish: Seventh
2023 highest run-scorer: Erin Burns (185)
2023 highest wicket-taker: Erin Burns & Bethan Ellis (9)
The big questions: How will Sparks fare without Erin Burns, their top scorer and joint leading wicket-taker last year? Will Burns’ fellow Australian import, Courtney Webb, be similarly effective? Can Sparks find the consistency needed to emulate their progress to the final in 2022?
Player to watch: Katie George – dynamic all-round force in the team who can turn games in all three ways, as a forceful batter, potent left-arm seamer and exceptional fielder.
Young gun: Charis Pavely – batting all-rounder who burst into the Sparks side last summer with a style which earned her a first professional contract and selection for England Under 19s. Fearless with the bat – a potential T20 matchwinner.
Final thought: If Sparks can fire collectively rather than sporadically, then they can challenge hard. That ability to produce the best consistently is what separates winners from also-rans.
TEAM NEWS
Western Storm will be without Heather Knight and Lauren Filer (international duty) whilst Ellie Anderson is unavailable for selection due to the terms of her loan agreement. However, Dani Gibson returns to the squad.
A starting XI will be named from the following squad: Sophie Luff (c), Emma Corney, Fran Wilson, Dani Gibson, Nat Wraith, Katie Jones, Alex Griffiths, Niamh Holland, Jess Hazell, Mollie Robbins, Gemma Lane, Amanda Jade Wellington, Chloe Skelton, 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: “Although we were disappointed with the result, there were a lot of positives to take from our opening game in the competition. I felt it was our best fielding performance of the season so far and it was good to see Emma Corney back out on the park after injury. I think could have been a bit braver with the bat and taken the game on earlier.
“We love playing in Taunton. You always get a great surface to play on here and the supporters are fantastic. e’re all excited about coming home to Taunton and playing under lights in front of what is always a great crowd. It’s always a bit special playing under lights beacuse it adds to the atmosphere and the occasion. This might be the first time that some of the squad have played under floodlights and we will have to bear that in mind when we’re preparing.
“In order to turn these narrow defeats into victories I believe that we just need to keep doing what we’re doing. We just need to be a bit tidier with the ball in terms of the width that we’re offering and just be a little bit braver with the bat.”
CLASSIC MATCH
The last time the two sides met in the Charlotte Edwards Cup was at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol in June last year.
It was a game that Storm would go on to win by seven wickets.
Sparks Captain, Eve Jones won the toss and elected to bat first.
Dani Gibson removed both openers to leave the visitors on 16 for two. Erin Burns (66 from 45 balls) got Sparks back on track but she too fell to Gibson who finished with four for 23 as Storm restricted their opponents to 135 for six from their 20 overs.
The hosts recovered from the loss of Gibson and Nat Wraith inside the opening five overs to reach the required total with four balls to spare.
Orla Prendergast top scored with 46 not out whilst there were also important contributions from Fran Wilson (34) and Sophie Luff (20 not out)
NEXT MATCH
Our next match is on Monday May 27th when they take on South East Stars at the County Ground, Beckenham.
Entry to this match is free.
The next match at the Cooper Associates County Ground sees England take on Pakistan in a Women’s ODI.
There are only a handful of tickets remaining for this fixture, so get them before it’s too late!
