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RHFT Preview: Western Storm v South East Stars
THE MATCH
Western Storm take on South East Stars in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy tomorrow (Wednesday May 1st)
Tickets for this match are still available.
Stars are currently top of the table with 14 points after winning their opening three fixtures. Storm are currently sixth and will be looking to build on the excellent 66-run win over Thunder at the weekend.
SCHEDULED HOURS OF PLAY:
First Innings: 10:30am to 1:45pm
Interval: 1:45pm to 2:30pm
Second Innings: 2:30pm to 5:45pm
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 9:30am.
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 2nd.
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 will be closed to the public for this match. However, blocks 3, 4 and 5 will be used to host the attendees of our Schools Day. The upper tier of the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion will also be closed.
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.
Fizzy Wizzy Woo will be selling sweet treats in the Priory Bridge Road side of the ground.
HOW CAN I KEEP UP TO DATE?
Our live stream will once again be available for fans to watch via this website and at our YouTube channel.
You can also keep up to date using our dedicated matchday blog via this website’s Match Centre and on our X feed.
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: Bryony Smith
Head Coach: Johann Myburgh
2023 finish: Third (Lost in play-off)
2023 highest run-scorer: Paige Scholfield (439)
2023 highest wicket-taker: Danielle Gregory (21)
Key winter moves: The re-signing of South Africa international batter Tazmin Brits marks Stars’ best business of the winter. Wicketkeeper-batter Chloe Hill makes last season’s loan from Southern Vipers a permanent as one of several new arrivals bolstering Stars to a 21-strong squad.
The big questions: Stars’ batting efforts widely fluctuated last year, so will Brits’ longer stay help bring greater consistency? As always there is the question of how much they will be disrupted by England call-ups?
Player to watch: Danielle Gregory continues to be underrated despite being third on the tournament’s wicket-takers list last term. Young quick Emma Jones could be another to keep an eye on after returning from two years of injury horrors.
Final thought: Stars underperformed last year, in part because in their quest to play positive cricket they were sometimes too aggressive too early whether setting or chasing. They have the bowling bases covered with Tash Farrant returning to join the likes of Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Alexa Stonehouse, and previously mentioned Jones and Gregory among others, so should pose opposition batters plenty of problems.
TEAM NEWS
Western Storm will be without Heather Knight, whilst Emma Corney misses out due to a shoulder injury.
Ellie Anderson has signed on a month long loan from Central Sparks and is available for selection for this match.
A starting XI will be named from the following squad: Sophie Luff (c), Dani Gibson, Fran Wilson, Claire Nicholas, Nat Wraith, Katie Jones, Alex Griffiths, Lauren Filer, Niamh Holland, Mollie Robbins, Gemma Lane, Amanda Jade Wellington, Chloe Skelton, Sophia Smale, Lola Harris, Imogen Cooper and Emily Geach.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Ahead of the game, Head Coach, Trevor Griffin said: “The players are in a great place after the win against Thunder. Everyone has trained really well. What was really pleasing was that in our debrief, not only did they talk about the things they did well, but also about how we can improve. That was exciting to hear.
“It’s a long campaign and we keep looking to get better. We will keep preparing well and we will back ourselves to go out there and play the quality of cricket that we want to play.
“Johann Myburgh has had a big influence on the brand of cricket that South East Stars play. It’s going to be a tough game so we need to be clear in our plans and trust in our skills.”
CLASSIC MATCH
We go back to September 2020 for our classic Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy match between the two side.
It was a game that saw Storm secure a comprehensive victory courtesy of a captain’s innings from Sophie Luff.
After winning the toss at Bristol, Stars Captain, Tash Farrant elected to bat first.
The visitors lost Alice Capsey early on when she was bowled by Lauren Filer, but half centuries from Kirstie White and Maxine Blythin saw the Stars post a total of 212 for nine from their 50 overs.
Georgia Hennessy was the pick of the bowlers, claiming three for 40.
The Storm reply got off to the worst possible start when Fi Morris fell to the third ball of the match. Lauren Parfitt was then dismissed at 49 for two.
However, Luff and Hennessy shared a stand of 162 for the third wicket before the latter was out for 86 with just two further runs needed for victory.
Luff finished things off and remained unbeaten on 104 as Storm won by seven wickets with 23 balls to spare.
SCHOOLS DAY
Approximately 900 local school children will be in attendance for this match. The Somerset Stand is reserved for schools for this fixture.
NEXT MATCH
Western Strom’s next match is on Saturday May 4th when they take on Southern Vipers at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol.
Tickets for this match are still available.
The next match at the Cooper Associates County Ground sees Somerset take on Essex in Division One of the Vitality County Championship.
This four-day fixture gets underway on Friday May 3rd.
Get your tickets now.
