After tasting success last week, Sunrisers Head Coach Andy Tennant has selected a squad of fourteen for this weekend’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy first home fixture of the season, where we see The Blaze travel to Chelmsford.
Cordelia Griffith comes back into the squad, having sat out of last week’s victory due to injury, in an otherwise unchanged group.
Sunrisers are looking to make it two from two at the start of the 2023 season, having claimed their first win of the tournament last week against the RHFT’s most successful team.
Abtaha Maqsood (5 for 30) and Mady Villiers (3 for 52) shone with the ball against a batting lineup that included six cricketers with international caps for England, to guide Sunrisers towards a colossal 126 run victory.
Having won the toss and elected to bat first, half-centuries from Villiers (70), Grace Scrivens (67) and a maiden fifty from Jodi Grewcock (69) helped the visitors towards a strong first innings total, finished off by debutant Eva Gray – who hit 25 from just 14 balls.
Before play, Gray received Sunrisers cap number 27, alongside Saskia Horley (cap 28) who became the first overseas player to feature for the region. Congratulations to them both on making their Sunrisers debuts.
The Blaze rebranded over the winter, changing their name and their main base. Formerly Lightning, a close-season change of host from Loughborough University to Nottinghamshire saw ‘The Blaze’ formed. After that, they made three marquee signings – England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sarah Glenn, and South African Nadine de Klerk – to join Tammy Beaumont as their key players.
They won their opening game last Saturday, beating Central Sparks by 59 runs at Trent Bridge. Beaumont hit 60 from 77 balls, and was backed up by Glenn (38), Georgie Boyce (28), and Lucy Higham (24) on their way to 212. Higham then took 5 for 19 in her ten overs with the Sparks batting line up unable to cope with her off-spin.
The game starts at 10.30am 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
Jodi Grewcock
Cordelia Griffith
Saskia Horley
Scarlett Hughes
Lissy Macleod
Abtaha Maqsood
Flo Miller
Grace Scrivens
Mady Villiers
Match information
The gates open at 9.30, with the toss and team news coming from 10. Tickets are still available to purchase here, at £10 for Adults and £5 for U18. There is no increase on the day.
The game has been marketed as a Club Day, which has seen an offer of 30 tickets for just £100 shared around the region. This offer can be claimed until 4pm on Friday, by calling the Essex Ticket Office on 01245 254010.
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, 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
We are back at Chelmsford on Monday when we take on Northern Diamonds. All above match information is the same, with the exception of the special offer. This game is marketed as a Family Day, with the opportunity to receive two free child tickets with every adult ticket purchased.
After that, there is a home game at Radlett on Friday 5 May, before a trip up to Thunder the following Wednesday. Our Charlotte Edwards Cup campaign begins with a floodlit game at Chelmsford on Thursday 18 May, starting at 6.30pm.