Match Preview: Southern Vipers v South East Stars, RHFT

Southern Vipers v South East Stars

Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy

Wednesday 10^th July 2024 (10:30am start)

Falkland CC, Newbury

The Vipers return to Falkland CC for the first time in over a year as they face South East Stars in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy

At Chesterfield on Friday, Georgia Adams’ side defeated The Blaze in a thrilling match that went down to the final over.

Adams and Mary Taylor were the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets each, before Abi Norgrove’s maiden fifty and a superb unbeaten 101* from Georgia Elwiss saw the Vipers over the line, with the former England all-rounder smashing a six to win the game and bring up three figures.

South East Stars claimed an 82-run victory against Thunder at Blackpool in their latest match.

Fifties for Bryony Smith and Paige Scholfield were the mainstay of their 283 before Ryana MacDonald-Gay’s 4-34 decimated Thunder, with Kalea Moore picking up 3-31.

The two sides played each other at Falkland CC in last year’s Charlotte Edwards Cup, where Lauren Bell claimed 2-25 before a quickfire 40 off 20 from Danni Wyatt and 30 off 18 from Maia Bouchier, with Charlie Dean crashing 20* off nine balls, to help see the Vipers home in the penultimate over.

Southern Vipers Squad

Southern Vipers have named a 14-player squad to take on the Stars at Falkland CC.

Rhianna Southby is ruled out with a finger injury, with Academy wicket keeper Rachel King being included in a Vipers squad for the first time.

Academy seamer Poppy Tulloch also comes into the squad.

South East Stars

The Stars have slipped to fourth after the latest round of fixtures, but remain ten points ahead of fifth-placed Blaze.

With Alice Capsey and Sophia Dunkley with the England Women IT20 squad, Kalea Moore has made the move up the order to open the batting with left arm seamer Alexa Stonehouse at three, with Tash Farrant also being utilised at the top of the order.

England’s latest recruitment, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, is one to watch after her stocks have risen sharply, along with 16-year-old spinner Tilly Courteen-Coleman who was the second leading wicket taker in the Charlotte Edwards Cup.

Bryony Smith, Paige Scholfield, Alice Davidson-Richards, and Aylish Cranstone provide the backbone of the Stars’ batting, with MacDonald-Gay, Stonehouse, Farrant, and Phoebe Franklin the main pace threats.

2024 Season In Numbers:

• 4^th in RHFT
• Form (most recent first): WWLWL
• Leading run scorer: Sophia Dunkley (293)
• Leading wicket taker: Ryana MacDonald-Gay (16)

Head-To-Head:

Southern Vipers’ record in Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy matches v South East Stars:

Recent Meetings:

• April 20 2024 | Beckenham | Stars won by four wickets (with three balls remaining)
• September 13 2023 | Utilita Bowl | Vipers won by 58 runs
• April 29 2023 | Beckenham | Vipers won by 158 runs
• September 21 2022 | Beckenham | Vipers won by six wickets (with 96 balls remaining)
• July 9 2022 | 1^st Central County Ground | Vipers won by 133 runs

Tickets

Admission for Southern Vipers v South East Stars at Falkland CC is free.

To register for your free ticket(s), please click here.

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.

Weather Forecast

Please follow the link to view the latest weather forecast for Newbury: https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2641689.