Charlotte Edwards Cup: Thunder v Western Storm
THE MATCH
Western Storm take on Thunder in the Charlotte Edwards Cup at tat Chester Boughton Hall CC, Chester.
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 met earlier this year at the Bristol County Ground in the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy.
Western Storm won by one wicket after winning the toss and electing to field.
Emma Lamb (121) and Piepa Cleary (79) helped the visitors to 291 for eight from their 50 overs.
Anya Shrubsole and Georgia Hennessey both claimed three wickets.
Heather Knight made 91 and Shrubsole added 61 not out as Storm chased down their target to win by the narrowest of margins from the final ball of the match.
TEAM NEWS
Head Coach, Mark O’Leary will pick the starting XI from the following players: Sophie Luff (c), Fi Morris (vc), Katie George, Georgia Hennessey, Danielle Gibson, Nat Wraith, Alex Griffiths, Nicole Harvey, Lauren Parfitt, Lauren Filer, Mollie Robbins, Emma Corney, Steph Hutchins, Emily Edgcombe, Niamh Holland and Bethan Gammon.
THE OPPOSITION
THUNDER
Coach: Paul Shaw
Captain: Alex Hartley
Overseas: Piepa Cleary (Australia – full competition)
Key player: Emma Lamb – Dynamic opening batter and canny off-spinner who has already scored a century for the Thunder in 50-over cricket this summer. Her game looks ideally suited to T20 cricket.
Flies under the radar: Piepa Cleary – Australian overseas all-rounder with nearly 50 WBBL appearances for Perth Scorchers Down Under. Steadying influence with ball (seamer) and bat in a young Thunder side.
Rising Star: Hannah Jones – Contracted left-arm spinner, 22, has played second fiddle to England’s Sophie Ecclestone in early stages of 50-over campaign. Now is her time to shine. Lovely, languid action like Ecclestone.
The Season Ahead: The Thunder’s aim at the start of the summer, including the 50-over Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, was to further develop their young squad and bloody some noses of the more experienced teams along the way. A haul of two wins in four matches is a profitable return, especially as it included a win over previously unbeaten Central Sparks at Worcester the Saturday before last. The aim will be the same again for Paul Shaw, Alex Hartley and co, and they will get a shot at arguably the biggest scalp immediately when they open the competition with a trip to Emerald Headingley to face ‘Roses’ rivals Northern Diamonds on Saturday afternoon. Kate Cross and Sophie Ecclestone will miss at least the early stages of the competition due to England one-day duty. Having only recently dropped the ‘North West’ prefix to their title, they are now just known as Thunder.
NEXT MATCH
Western Storm’s next match is on Saturday July 10th against Northern Diamonds in the same competition at The Cooper Associates County Ground.
