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Women’s Metro Bank One Day Cup Preview: Somerset v The Blaze
THE MATCH
Somerset take on The Blaze at Taunton Vale Sports Club in the Metro Bank One Day Cup tomorrow (Sunday September 7th).
Play is scheduled to get underway at 10:30am.
Gates open at 9:30am.
Tickets for this match are still available and can be purchased via the link below.
Tickets cost just £10 for adults, £7 for students and £5 for juniors. There are also discounts available for group bookings.
Somerset are currently sixth in the table with 24 points from 11 matches whilst The Blaze are third with 31 points from the same number of games.
SCHEDULED HOURS OF PLAY
10:30am – 2pm: Innings one
2pm – 2:30pm: Interval
2:30pm – 6pm Innings two
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This match is being held at Taunton Vale Sports Club, not the Cooper Associates County Ground.
Somerset Men’s Membership cards will not grant you access to the venue for this fixture.
Bag searches will be in operation and spectators are reminded that no glass or sharp implements will be permitted within the venue. Spectators may bring cans into the venue. Members and ticket holders may bring a maximum of four cans of alcohol or half a bottle of wine per person into the ground.
Ticket buyers can download their online tickets via their SCCC account.
HOW CAN I KEEP UP TO DATE?
A live stream of the match will be available via this website and on our YouTube channel. Viewers are reminded that this fixture is being held at an outground and therefore the streaming infrastructure is less advanced than we are able to provide for fixtures at the Cooper Associates County Ground.
You can also keep up to date via our social media channels.
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: Craig Cumming
The big questions: After winning their first trophy in the 2024 Charlotte Edwards Cup, how will The Blaze fare now that head coach Chris Guest has left to lead England’s Under-19s Women? Can successor Craig Cumming, the ex-New Zealand Test batter, duplicate his success with Otago Sparks after two domestic 50-over titles in three years?
Player to watch: The return of former Loughborough Lightning captain Georgia Elwiss to the East Midlands after four trophy-laden seasons with Southern Vipers adds proven experience and availability to The Blaze squad. The 33-year-old former England all-rounder’s 2024 campaign was among the best of her career, including 488 runs at 69.71 in the 50-over competition.
Young gun: Josie Groves has taken 20 List A wickets in the past two seasons yet the leg spinner has only just turned 20 and is still looking to realise her full potential both as a bowler and batter. An Under-19s World Cup finalist, she is likely to have a big part to play this season.
Final thought: Last year’s 20-over champions and 50-over finalists two years ago, The Blaze have added a fourth current England player in Amy Jones to the squad with all-rounders Orla Prendergast (Ireland) and Heather Graham (Australia) sharing overseas duties. Stung by failing to make the knock-out stage in last season’s 50-over competition, they will be eager to put that right.
Squad: Kirstie Gordon (captain), Grace Ballinger, Sarah Glenn, Georgie Boyce, Josie Groves, Cassidy McCarthy, Lucy Higham, Sarah Bryce, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Tammy Beaumont, Kathryn Bryce, Prisha Thanawala, Charley Phillips, Marie Kelly, Michaela Kirk, Ella Claridge, Georgia Elwiss, Amy Jones, Olivia Baker, Amy Wheeler, Scarlett Hughes, Heather Graham, Orla Prendergast.
TEAM NEWS
Somerset will be without Heather Knight, Emma Corney (knee) and Amelie Munday (knee).
The following squad has been named for this fixture:
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Ahead of the match, Head Coach, Trevor Griffin said: “We played some very good cricket at Old Trafford against a very good Lancashire side. The bowlers set the tone and I’m delighted by how we performed. There are still some things to work on and hopefully we can build on that result and performance when we take on The Blaze this weekend.
“The Blaze are a strong side and we need to focus on what we do. Hopefully, we can entertain those who come to watch us at Taunton Vale and come away with another win.”
NEXT MATCH
Somerset Women are next in action on Wednesday September 10th when we take on Hampshire at Utilita Bowl in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.
Tickets for this match are still available.
