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Match Preview: Southern Vipers v Central Sparks, RHFT
Match Preview: Southern Vipers v Central Sparks, RHFT
Southern Vipers have named a 14 -player squad to take on Central Sparks at Wormsley in their first home match of 2024
Southern Vipers v Central Sparks
Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy
Wednesday 24th April 2024 (10:30am start)
Wormsley
Southern Vipers will look to bounce back from defeat in their opening match of the season against South East Stars – a thrilling contest which saw the home side secure victory in the final over.
Despite the opening loss, there were plenty of positives to take from the game, including an excellent start in Vipers colours for Charli Knott who made 41 opening the batting with Ella McCaughan in a partnership worth 80, before she took 2-35 off her ten overs with the ball, as she removed Paige Scholfield for a single and Tash Farrant for a career-best 94.
Freya Kemp also made 50 off just 47 deliveries, whilst McCaughan, and Georgias Adams and Elwiss all surpassed 30, whilst the skipper also picked up a couple of wickets to her name.
Last time out at Wormsley, it was the Sparks who played host to the Vipers, with the now-home side coming out victorious by three wickets, with Georgia Adams’ all-round abilities being the star of the show.
The captain took 4-30 to help restrict the Sparks to 183-9, before her half-century, along with 42 from Charlie Dean, helped to steer the Vipers towards the finishing line, with who else but Emily Windsor hitting the winning run.
Squad News
Southern Vipers have named a 14-player squad to take on the Sparks at Wormsley.
Maia Bouchier and Charlie Dean return to the squad, allowing the Vipers to call on three England centrally contracted players.
Full Southern Vipers Squad:
Georgia Adams Captain (1)
Ella McCaughan (8)
Maia Bouchier (16)
Alice Monaghan (20)
Charlie Dean (22)
Rhianna Southby † (17)
Georgia Elwiss (34)
Linsey Smith (50)
Nancy Harman (25)
Megan Sturge † (3)
Freya Kemp (6)
Mary Taylor (9)
Charli Knott (88)
Emily Windsor (4)
Central Sparks
The Sparks finished fifth last summer, winning six out of their 14 matches, and only missed out on a top four spot by one point to the Sunrisers.
The team has arguably the strongest bowling attack in the country on paper, with Issy Wong, Emily Arlott, Katie George, and Grace Potts all capable of bowling quick and swinging the ball, whilst spinner Georgia Davis was their leading wicket taker, with England U19 leggie Hannah Baker also claiming ten scalps from just seven games in 2023.
The West Midlands-based side recently announced the signing of Courtney Webb, as she becomes the seventh Australian overseas player to sign for a regional side this summer.
Besides, Webb, they have kept the same squad, with no major signings or outgoings.
2023 Season In Numbers:
5th in RHFT
Leading run scorer: Eve Jones (440)
Leading wicket taker: Georgia Davis (27)
Head-To-Head:
Southern Vipers’ record in Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy matches v Central Sparks:
Played
Won
Lost
Tied
No Result
4
2
2
0
0
Recent Meetings:
May 10th 2023 | 1st Central County Ground | Sparks won by six wickets (with 52 balls remaining)
May 1st 2023 | Wormsley | Vipers won by three wickets (with 53 balls remaining)
July 2nd 2022 | Edgbaston Foundation Ground | Vipers won by seven wickets (DLS method with two balls remaining)
June 5th 2021 | 1st Central County Ground | Sparks won by 120 runs
Tickets
Admission for Southern Vipers at Wormsley 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.
