An unchanged squad of 14 has been named by Head Coach Andy Tennant for our final home game before the break for the Hundred, when we host Thunder at Northamptonshire’s County Ground in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.
We head into the game after a narrow defeat away to South East Stars on Tuesday, losing by 19 runs on the DLS method after rain affected the second innings.
Cordelia Griffith hit her highest score for Sunrisers, in a magnificent 92 that included a partnership of 143 – the highest opening partnership in the competition so far this year – with fellow opener Grace Scrivens, who returned having missed the last two games through England duty. Scrivens herself hit 59, and will be looking to better that tomorrow.
Dané van Niekerk impressed in the game, scoring 44 from 34 deliveries and taking a wicket with her second ball, all after claiming three catches and a run out. There is no doubt that she will be excited to entertain the Northampton crowd on her final home appearance for the club.
Eva Gray will be pushing for a return to action, after a minor injury sustained on England duty has ruled her out of the last couple of games. Jo Gardner (hand injury) and Abtaha Maqsood (Scotland duty) remain absent.
The reverse fixture against Thunder was abandoned after just 15 overs in May, due to rain falling heavily in Sale on the day. They claimed their first RHFT victory of the season on Tuesday to lift them off the bottom of the table, beating Northern Diamonds by six wickets, and have also enjoyed two tied matches alongside three losses.
We are excited to welcome 120 children from local schools to Northamptonshire’s County Ground tomorrow, and look forward to the atmosphere that they will no doubt help create. Northamptonshire, Essex, and Middlesex members can come in for free, whilst the game is also included in the Junior Sunnies membership. Tickets are still available to buy, at £10 for adults and £5 for U18, and the game starts at 10.30am.
We wish a safe journey to those who are making the journey to join us, or alternatively 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:
Dané van Niekerk (captain)
Amara Carr
Kelly Castle
Kate Coppack
Eva Gray
Jodi Grewcock
Cordelia Griffith
Scarlett Hughes
Lissy Macleod
Esmae MacGregor
Flo Miller
Grace Scrivens
Amu Surenkumar
Mady Villiers
Up next
We head to the midlands next weekend, with back to back away games to finish this block of RHFT games. On Saturday 22 July we face Central Sparks at Worcestershire’s New Road, before travelling the short distance to Cheltenham College to take on Western Storm the Monday after, 24 July. You can buy tickets for both games here.
After a break for the Hundred, we return in September with four fixtures – home games against Western Storm at Radlett (Tuesday 5 September) and Central Sparks at Chelmsford (Sunday 10 September), before trips to face The Blaze (Wednesday 13 September, Welbeck CC) and Northern Diamonds (Saturday 16 September, Durham) to finish the season.