SQUAD AND PREVIEW | SUNRISERS v BLAZE (27 APRIL)

Sunrisers have named an unchanged squad of thirteen for tomorrow’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy game against The Blaze, their first home game of the season.

After Saturday’s superb opening day victory, Sunrisers will be looking to return to winning ways after a disappointing result on Wednesday.

Despite another bright start, with Kate Coppack and Jodi Grewcock removing both Thunder openers in the powerplay, Morris and Mack came together for a 191-run partnership that took the game away for the hosts as they went on to score 292/5.

In reply, Cross and Ecclestone – Thunder’s two England internationals – excelled, using all their knowledge and skills to stifle the run flow. The required rate kept climbing, and despite an entertaining 50-partnership from Grewcock and Flo Miller, the task proved a big ask and we were bowled out for 150.

Grace Scrivens played her 50th game for the region, becoming the first player to do so. Congratulations to Grace on an amazing achievement.

Sunrisers return home for the first time this summer, with plenty of positives to take from the opening two games. They face The Blaze, who have suffered defeats in both of their opening fixtures.

Like Sunrisers, the Midlands side are missing their Scottish players – Kathryn and Sarah Bryce are in Abu Dhabi alongside Abtaha Maqsood as they look to qualify for this year’s ICC World Cup in Bangladesh.

Last year’s finalists have a point to prove themselves, having found themselves 49/9 at home against South East Stars this week. A last wicket partnership took them up to 126, but they could only claim two Stars wickets in the reply. They also lost their opening fixture, by 78 runs away to Central Sparks.

England spinner Sarah Glenn returned in the week, and with Nadine de Klerk settled they will look to offer a much-improved performance against Sunrisers this weekend.

The last meeting between the sides happened in September, as Scrivens and Ariana Dowse shared an opening partnership of 200 against the then table-topping Blaze in Loughborough. Both openers reached their centuries, becoming the first players to reach the landmark for Sunrisers.

The game starts at 10.30am, at the Cloud County Ground in Chelmsford. Tickets are available to buy on the day, at £10 for adults and £5 for children. Entry is free to Essex, Middlesex, and Northamptonshire members.

If you can’t make it to the game, make sure you tune in to watch our free live stream during the day, on our YouTube channel, alongside updates on our social media channels. We wish a safe travel to those of you joining us.

Sunrisers have named the following squad:

Grace Scrivens (captain)

Amara Carr

Kate Coppack

Ariana Dowse

Jo Gardner

Jodi Grewcock

Cordelia Griffith

Nicola Hancock

Esmae MacGregor

Flo Miller

Charley Phillips

Amu Surenkumar

Mady Villiers

Up next

Our next game sees us travel to Kidderminster Cricket Club on Wednesday, where we will face Central Sparks. You can buy tickets at the gate on arrival.

We then return to Northampton on Saturday 4 May, to take on South East Stars. Tickets can be bought on the day, priced at £10 for adults and £5 for children. Entry is free for Essex, Middlesex, and Northamptonshire members.

The final game of the opening RHFT block will then take place at Radlett Cricket Club on Wednesday 8 May, where we welcome the Southern Vipers. Tickets can be purchased here, with free entry once again for members of our three First Class Counties.