Rosa Simkin (@rosatalksball) – 03/05/24
It’s the weekend, which means more Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy (50-Over) action with six* of the eight sides battling it out as they continue their quests to end the era of Regional cricket as the final victors. Join me as I take a deep dive into the three fixtures taking place on Saturday (04/05), looking at the player’s to watch, recent performances, the stats and much more as I help ready you for another weekend of regional cricket viewing whether in the stands or from afar through the streams!
*The Blaze face Thunder on Monday and will have their own separate preview*
My Tournament Guide:
Order of Content – Central Sparks vs Northern Diamonds, Sunrisers vs South East Stars, Western Storm vs Southern Vipers, 2024 Stats so Far & Current Standings (All previews include details of the game, matchday squads, head to head stats, players to watch, last time out & team statistics!)
Central Sparks (7th) vs Northern Diamonds (4th)
Location – Edgbaston, Birmingham
Tickets – Link
Where to Watch – YouTube
Start Time – 10:30
Sparks Matchday Squad – Em Arlott, Chloe Brewer, Ami Campbell, Bethan Ellis, Abbey Freeborn, Ria Fackrell, Katie George, Eve Jones (C), Charis Pavely, Grace Potts, Courtney Webb & Issy Wong
Diamonds Matchday Squad – Hollie Armitage (C), Erin Burns, Leah Dobson, Rebecca Duckworth, Abi Glen, Grace Hall, Bess Heath, Katie Levick, Emma Marlow, Lizzie Scott, Phoebe Turner, Sophia Turner, Lauren Winfield-Hill & Jess Woolston
RHFT Head to Head:
Games = 7: Sparks Wins = 4, Diamonds wins = 3
Last Time Out:
Sparks (1 Win From 4):
The Central Sparks came up against now top of the table Sunrisers on Wednesday where they fell to their third defeat in a row. After losing the toss, Grace Scrivens put them in to bat at Kidderminster. After ducks for both openers, Abbey Freeborn came in at 3 and was tasked with a rebuild. First came a 68 run partnership with Aussie debutante Courtney Webb, followed by a 45 run partnership with young gun Davina Perrin. A half-century came with for Freeborn, however she fell just short of her century being caught off the bowling of Nicola Hancock for 93 (145), quite some innings for the wicket-keeper batter. Bethan Ellis contributed a key 31 (35) and Courtney Webb 28 (52) with Sparks reaching 213/10 from 50 overs.
Unfortunately for the West Midlands side the total wasn’t enough, with Sunrisers reaching their target of 214 off just 39.4 overs, losing 5 wickets in the process. Sunrisers skipper Grace Scrivens was the star, reaching 118* (123 balls). The wickets were shared among three Sparks players; Grace Potts with 1/37 (8 Overs), Ria Fackrell with 2/51 (8.4 Overs) and Bethan Ellis with 2/38 (9 Overs).
Diamonds (2 Wins From 4):
The Northern Diamonds look to be returning to their former selves with 2 wins from 2 putting them 4th in the standings. However after two wins to start their campaign, Wednesday brought their second defeat on the bounce against The Blaze. After winning the toss in Scarborough Diamonds captain Hollie Armitage elected to bat and what followed certainly wasn’t their initial plan! After a positive start they lost their first wicket, in the form of Lauren Winfield-Hill for 8 (19), putting them 38/1 from 9 overs. Three wickets in four overs then put them 55/4 from 16. A continued, steady loss of wickets followed until they were bowled out for just 188 for 47.4 overs. Leah Dobson top scored with a crucial 54 (85) and Abi Glen contributed a handy 38 (31) batting 9.
Despite what you’d expect, what followed was a narrow defeat in a final over thriller. After 10 overs, The Blaze were moving along nicely with 45 runs scored and just one wicket lost, of usual tailender Kirstie Gordon. The game continued to run on, with The Blaze steadily losing wickets and eventually requiring 5 to win from the final over with just 2 wickets remaining. Unfortunately for Diamonds and bowler Sophia Turner, the runs came off the first 4 balls and The Blaze gained a narrow victory. Aussie spin bowler Erin Burns topped the wicket taking tallies with 3/40 from her 10 overs and Woolston, P Turner, S Turner and Levick took one each.
Team Stats:
Sparks Top Run Scorer = Abbey Freeborn – 149 Runs, 4 Innings, 37.25 AVG & 60.56 SR.
Sparks Top Wicket Taker = Hannah Baker – 8 Wickets, 33.0 Overs, 19.00 AVG & 4.60 Econ.
Diamonds Top Run Scorer = Hollie Armitage – 176 Runs, 4 Innings, 58.66 AVG & 83.80 SR.
Diamonds Top Wicket Taker = Phoebe Turner – 8 Wickets, 36.0 Overs, 18.50 AVG & 4.11 Econ
Sunrisers (1st) vs South East Stars (2nd)
Location – County Ground, Northampton
Tickets – Link
Where to Watch – YouTube
Start Time – 10:30
Sunrisers Matchday Squad – Grace Scrivens (C), Amara Carr, Kate Coppack, Ariana Dowse, Jo Gardner, Jodi Grewcock, Cordelia Griffith, Nicola Hancock, Flo Miller, Charley Phillips, Amu Surenkumar & Mady Villiers
Stars Matchday Squad – *Details added once announced*
RHFT Head to Head:
Games = 6: Stars Wins = 6, Sunrisers Wins = 0
Last Time Out:
Sunrisers (3 Wins From 4):
In rather miraculous fashion Sunrisers have shattered their curse, sitting first in the table after four matches. Last time out saw their third bonus point win of the campaign against the Central Sparks at Kidderminster. After winning the toss and opting to bowl first they had the Sparks 3/2 after five overs with keeper Amara Carr catching openers Eve Jones & Chloe Brewer for ducks off the bowling of Kate Coppack. A slight comeback formed through Abbey Freeborn’s 93 (145) but Sunrisers managed to restrict Sparks to 213 all out from their 50 overs. Opening Seamer Kate Coppack and Aussie Nicola Hancock took three each, Jo Garder grabbed two and Jodi Grewcock & Esmae MacGregor finished with one each.
Despite the loss of Ariana Dowse for 0 (3) in the second over, the Sunrisers and more specifically Grace Scrivens made the chase look simple. Skipper Scrivens was the star, carrying her bat with 118* from 123 balls for her second Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy century. Cordelia Griffith (37 from 48) and Amara Carr (26 from 35) helped complete the chase in 39.4 overs, with Sunrisers ending their innings on 214/5 and making their way to the top spot in the table,
Stars (3 Wins From 4):
The South East Stars have had quite the start to 2024, with three wins coming in a row from the get go. Wednesday however brought them their first loss against Western Storm in Somerset. The rain affected game was brought down to 44 overs and Stars were put in to bat first by Storm captain Sophie Luff. What followed was a continuation of their previous batting form, with the team in yellow reaching a massive 298/5 from their 44 over innings. Openers Bryony Smith and Alexa Stonehouse contributed 30 and 29 respectively, but the real stars came from the middle order. Paige Schofield reached 74 from 68 balls, Alice Davidson-Richards 65 from 85 and Aylish Cranstone 63* from 40.
The bowlers started well, restricting Storm to 32/2 from their 10 over power play with the wickets of openers Griffiths for 4 and SO Smale for 5. Unfortunately for Stars, they just couldn’t catch Sophie Luff and Fran Wilson in time allowing them a 131 run partnership, followed by a flourish of boundaries from Amanda-Jade Wellington. When the rain started pouring in the 36th over with Storm requiring 63 to win from 8 overs with 5 wickets remaining they were 8 runs ahead of DLS and that stayed the story, bringing Stars their first loss of the year. Wickets wise Bethan Miles took 2 and Gregory, Franklin & Stonehouse took 1 wicket a piece.
Team Stats:
Sunrisers Top Run Scorer = Grace Scrivens – 236 Runs, 4 Innings, 236.00 AVG & 74.44 SR.
Sunrisers Top Wicket Taker = Nicola Hancock – 10 Wickets, 31.1 Overs, 12.40 AVG & 3.97 Econ.
Stars Top Run Scorer = Tash Farrant – 216 Runs, 3 Innings, 108.00 AVG & 91.52 SR.
Stars Top Wicket Taker = Ryana MacDonald-Gay – 12 Wickets, 33.0 Overs, 11.75 AVG & 4.27 Econ.
Western Storm (5th) vs Southern Vipers (3rd)
Location – Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol
Tickets – Link
Where to Watch – YouTube
Start Time – 10:30
Storm Matchday Squad – Sophie Luff (C), Dani Gibson, Heather Knight, Fran Wilson, Nat Wraith, Katie Jones, Alex Griffiths, Lauren Filer, Niamh Holland, Jess Hazell, Mollie Robbins, Gemma Lane, Amanda Jade Wellington, Chloe Skelton, Sophia Smale, Ellie Anderson, Claire Nicholas, Lola Harris, Imogen Cooper & Emily Geach
Vipers Matchday Squad – Georgia Adams (Captain), Maia Bouchier, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Georgia Elwiss, Freya Kemp, Charli Knott, Ella McCaughan, Linsey Smith, Rhiana Southby, Megan Sturge, Mary Taylor, Emily Windsor & Danni Wyatt
RHFT Head to Head:
Games = 6: Vipers Wins = 4, Storm Wins = 0, NR = 2
Last Time Out:
Storm (2 Wins From 4):
Western Storm come into their clash against Vipers off the back of their second win of the season, with a victory against second placed South East Stars on Wednesday. After a delayed start and a shortened 44 overs per side game Storm one the toss and elected to bowl first. The bowlers struggled in Somerset, allowing Stars to reach a massive 298/5 from their 44 overs. The wickets came from Niamh Holland with 2/59 (7 overs) and Ellie Anderson, Mollie Robbins & Alex Griffiths took one each. Paige Schofield top scored for Stars with 74 from 68 balls.
Faced with a mammoth 299 run Storm had a slow start, reaching 32 at the loss of 2 wickets after their 10 over power play. From that point on however, Sophie Luff and Fran Wilson really came to play with a 131 run partnership from 119 balls. The fall of Sophie Luff for 59 (73 balls) in the 25th over was quickly followed by the wicket of Fran Wilson at the beginning of the 28th for 65 (61 balls). However, a rapid 30 from 16 balls for overseas star Amanda-Jade Wellington and handy 40 from 28 balls for keeper Nat Wraith took Storm to 236/5 from 36 overs before the rain came. What fowled was an 8 run win through DLS!
Storm are yet to beat Vipers in 50-over cricket. Can they use the high of a victory against the team in second to find their first victory against them on Saturday?
Vipers (3 Wins From 4):
The reigning champions made it 3 wins from 4 against Thunder on Wednesday. After winning the toss and electing to bowl first they restricted Thunder to 206/9 from their 50-over innings. Thunder opener Seren Smale scored the bulk of the runs, being run out by wicket-keeper Rhianna Southby for 99 from 145 runs. Wickets wise, spinner Linsey Smith took a phenomenal 3/19 (10), pace bowler Mary Taylor took 2/37 (9) and Charli Knott & Alice Monaghan took one each.
Their chase had a dramatic start, with opener and their seasons top run scorer Ella McCaughan being bowled by Tara Norris for 0 from 5, followed by the wickets of Norgrove for 18 and Knott for 7. Thankfully for Vipers, Georgia Adams and Georgia Elwiss added some stability in the middle order with 51 and 43 respectively. However for me, it was Alice Monaghan and Nancy Harman that stole the show. They put on a 41 run partnership after a slight colapse from the side, bringing them to their desired total.
Team Stats:
Storm Top Run Scorer = Sophie Luff – 167 Runs, 4 Innings, 55.66 AVG & 71.36 SR.
Storm Top Wicket Taker = Amanda-Jade Wellington – 6 Wickets, 38.0 Overs, 22.50 AVG & 3.55 Econ.
Vipers Top Run Scorer = Ella McCaughan – 156 Runs, 4 Innings, 39.00 AVG & 68.12 SR.
Vipers Top Wicket Taker = Linsey Smith – 8 Wickets, 40.0 Overs, 19.00 AVG & 3.80 Econ.
2024 Stats so Far (RHFT)
Top 5 Run Scorers:
- Grace Scrivens (Sunrisers) – 236 Runs, 4 Innings, 236.00 AVG & 74.44 SR.
- Tash Farrant (South East Stars) – 216 Runs, 3 Innings, 108.00 AVG & 91.52 SR.
- Katie Mack (Thunder) – 184 Runs, 4 Innings, 46.00 AVG & 85.98 SR.
- Hollie Armitage (Northern Diamonds) – 176 Runs, 4 Innings, 58.66 AVG & 83.80 SR.
- Lauren Winfield-Hill (Northern Diamonds) – 172 Runs, 3 Innings, 57.33 AVG & 83.49 SR.
Top 5 Wicket Takers:
- Ryana MacDonald-Gay (South East Stars) – 12 Wickets, 33.0 Overs, 11.75 AVG & 4.27 Econ.
- Nicola Hancock (Sunrisers) – 10 Wickets, 31.1 Overs, 12.40 AVG & 3.97 Econ.
- Phoebe Turner (Northern Diamonds) – 8 Wickets, 36.0 Overs, 18.50 AVG & 4.11 Econ.
- Hannah Baker (Central Sparks) – 8 Wickets, 33.0 Overs, 19.00 AVG & 4.60 Econ.
- Linsey Smith (Southern Vipers) – 8 Wickets, 40.0 Overs, 19.00 AVG & 3.80 Econ.
Current Standings
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