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Match Preview: South East Stars v Southern Vipers, RHFT
Match Preview: South East Stars v Southern Vipers, RHFT
A 13-player squad has been named for Southern Vipers’ season-opening match in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy against South East Stars at Beckenham
South East Stars v Southern Vipers
Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy
Saturday 20th April 2024 (10:30am start)
Beckenham
Southern Vipers start their Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy title defence against South East Stars at Beckenham on Saturday.
Georgia Adams’ side will be hoping to start the season strong after some solid performances in their pre-season friendlies.
Last season’s campaign tested the squad’s strength in depth, with three Academy players – Ava Lee, Abi Norgrove, and Megan Sturge – making their senior debuts, and with availability of the five England centrally contracted players in doubt for much of the season, 2024 will be a similar challenge for the reigning champions.
A year ago in this fixture, half-centuries from Ella McCaughan, Maia Bouchier, and Georgia Elwiss helped the Vipers post a daunting total of 287 before Lauren Bell decimated the Stars’ top order taking 4-37 as she found herself on a hattrick on not one, but two occasions, as the hosts capitulated to 129 all out.
Southern Vipers Squad
Charlotte Edwards has named a 13-player squad for their season opener.
Freya Kemp is the only England centrally contracted player available for this fixture, whilst new signings Freya Davies and Charli Knott, who made 62 against Western Storm earlier this week, are in line to make their Vipers debuts.
Georgia Adams Captain (1)
Alice Monaghan (20)
Freya Davies (61)
Linsey Smith (51)
Georgia Elwiss (34)
Rhianna Southby † (17)
Nancy Harman (25)
Megan Sturge † (3)
Freya Kemp (6)
Mary Taylor (9)
Charli Knott (88)
Emily Windsor (4)
Ella McCaughan (8)
South East Stars
The Stars were in the hunt for much of the 2023 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, keen to add to their only silverware thus far in the 2021 Charlotte Edwards Cup.
They finished third overall, losing out to The Blaze in the RHFT Eliminator, but equalled the number of wins (7) of the two orange and black sides above them.
The Stars had re-signed South African batter Tazmin Brits, who scored a century for the side last summer, but the powerful opener will no longer be available after she sustained an injury whilst on international duty.
Other winter moves include signing former Vipers keeper Chloe Hill on a permanent deal along with handing 16-year-old spinner Tilly Courteen-Coleman, who was drafted by Southern Brave in The Hundred, a first pro contract.
2023 Season In Numbers:
3rd in RHFT
Leading run scorer: Paige Scholfield (439)
Leading wicket taker: Dani Gregory (21)
Head-To-Head:
Southern Vipers’ record in Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy matches v South East Stars:
Played
Won
Lost
Tied
No Result
7
7
0
0
0
Recent Meetings:
September 13th 2023 | Utilita Bowl | Vipers won by 58 runs
April 29th 2023 | Beckenham | Vipers won by 158 runs
September 21st 2022 | Beckenham | Vipers won by six wickets (with 96 balls remaining)
July 9th 2022 | 1st Central County Ground | Vipers won by 133 runs
May 31st 2021 | Beckenham | Vipers won by seven wickets (with 128 balls remaining)
Tickets
Admission for South East Stars v Southern Vipers at Beckenham is free.
Match Coverage
A live stream will be available for the match, and a link to the stream will be available in the free-to-download Hampshire Cricket App and at www.utilitabowl.com/cricket.
Both the Hampshire Cricket App and www.utilitabowl.com/cricket will also host a live match centre with scorecard, statistics and insight available throughout the match.
