England trio available for first three Trophy games
ENGLAND trio Heather Knight, Anya Shrubsole and Katie George will feature for Western Storm in the opening three games of this year’s Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy.
They will be able to play this Sunday against Thunder at the Bristol County Ground, and on Monday in the game with Central Sparks at Edgbaston and against South East Stars at the Kia Oval on Saturday, June 5.
England captain Knight said: “Because of my links to the South West I love playing for Western Storm. We had tremendous success in the Kia Super League and I’m excited we will get to play a part in this season’s Rachael HeyhoeFlint Trophy. To be able to play in a competition that bears her name will be an honour.
“We are linking back up with the squad this week and are really looking forward to seeing how much the group has developed over the winter.
“It’s a great set-up and the three of us can’t wait to play in the green and black again this summer.”
Storm have won their two warmup games, beating Central Sparks and Lightning.
They came out on top by two wickets against Central Sparks at Newport CC.
Storm skipper Sophie Luff won the toss and elected to field and in the opening ten powerplay overs, Storm restricted their opponents to 43-2. Milly Home was looking in good form, but when she was lbw to Fi Morris in the 25th over for 45 the Sparks were 84-4.
A 51-run fifth-wicket partnership between Ria Fackrell (26) and Poppy Davies (28) took the Sparks to 135 before the former fell to a sharp stumping by Nat Wraith. The Storm bowlers limited their opponents to 199 all out from their 50
overs as Dumbleton’s Danielle Gibson was the pick of the attack, claiming 3-29 from five overs.
In reply, Storm slipped to 48-4, but Luff (87 not out) and Gibson (39 from 29 balls) pushed their side towards the victory target.
Although wickets continued to fall, Luff shared a 66-run ninth wicket stand with Gloucestershire county player Mollie Robbins and hit the opening ball of the 48th over from Grace Potts to the boundary rope to see her side over the line with 17 balls to spare.
They then enjoyed a sevenwicket DLS win over Lightning in Loughborough.
Luff again won the toss and elected to field but 72 from Tammy Beaumont and 41 from Abigail Freeborn helped the home side post 232-9 from their 50 overs.
Steph Hutchins (two for 12) was the pick of the bowlers, whilst there was also a brace of wickets for both Georgia Hennessey and Robbins.
Storm’s reply started in strong fashion with Lauren Parfitt and Fi Morris looking in impressive form but rain interrupted proceedings and Storm were set a revised total of 174 from 34 overs.
Parfitt (66) and Morris (65) shared an opening stand of 127 to put Storm on course for victory, which was achieved with four balls to spare.