Andy Tennant has named a squad of thirteen for our opening Charlotte Edwards Cup game of the season, where we host Central Sparks under the lights at Chelmsford.
South African all-rounder Dané van Niekerk comes into the squad, with the global superstar ready to make her debut for Sunrisers after signing for the summer.
Flo Miller and Grace Scrivens both scored half-centuries in warm up games on Monday, where we beat Southern Vipers by 50 runs and lost narrowly to South East Stars by two runs at Beckenham.
Eva Gray starred with the ball in the first game, claiming three wickets for 23, whilst Scrivens took six wickets on the day – 2 for 23 and 4 for 14. Wickets were shared around the bowlers, with most of the squad getting a good run out.
Sunrisers head into the game having played five Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy games so far this season, winning one, losing three, and seeing rain end the contest early away to Thunder. Abtaha Maqsood has been the standout with the ball so far, claiming nine wickets with her leg spin.
Central Sparks have also played five RHFT games, winning two, losing two, and one thrilling tie up in Manchester. They have beaten both of last year’s RHFT finalists, Southern Vipers and Northern Diamonds, so far this season, and having reached the 2022 CEC final themselves, they will be confident in looking to return this year.
The game starts at 6.30pm at the Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford. We wish a safe journey to those who are making the journey over to join us, or you can tune into the Live Stream, with commentary from BBC’s Guy Swindells, on our YouTube channel and in the Match Centre on the day.
Sunrisers have named the following squad:
Kelly Castle (captain)
Amara Carr
Kate Coppack
Jo Gardner
Eva Gray
Cordelia Griffith
Scarlett Hughes
Lissy Macleod
Abtaha Maqsood
Flo Miller
Grace Scrivens
Dané van Niekerk
Mady Villiers
Match information
The gates open at 5.30, with the toss and team news coming from 6. Tickets are still available to purchase here, at £10 for Adults and £5 for U18. There is no increase on the day.
This game is included in the Junior Sunnies Membership, whilst Essex, Middlesex, and Northamptonshire members can attend for free.
Essex have confirmed that both gates will be open for entry to the ground, and food and drink will be available to purchase in the pavilion.
If you cannot make it to the ground, you can watch every ball on our Live Stream – this link will be in our Match Centre or watch it direct on YouTube, and follow the game through updates on our Twitter page.
Up next
Our next game sees us play our first ever competitive fixture at the world famous Lord’s Cricket Ground, where we face South East Stars as part of a double header alongside Middlesex next Thursday, 25 May. The game starts at 2.15, before Middlesex face Surrey in the evening. Tickets for the double header are available on the Lord’s website.
The T20 games then come along thick and fast, as we make the trip north to face Thunder at Old Trafford (2.30pm start) on Saturday 27 May, before playing Northern Diamonds the next day at Headingley (3.30pm start). We then return to Northampton for our final home T20, facing Western Storm on Wednesday 31 May (2.30pm start, before the Northamptonshire Steelbacks face Birmingham Bears).