MATCH PREVIEW AND SQUAD NEWS: The Blaze vs Thunder, Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy
Paul Shaw believes the Blaze will challenge strongly in their first season of regional cricket, as highlighted by their pair of opening round victories in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.
The new Nottingham-based side have replaced the Lightning from Loughborough as one of the eight regions, with all of their operations moving to Trent Bridge.
A number of players have moved over with them, including England opener Tammy Beaumont. But they have also added her international team-mates Sarah Glenn and Nat Sciver-Brunt to their squad alongside South African overseas all-rounder Nadine de Klerk.
Beaumont, Glenn and de Klerk have helped the Blaze win their opening two Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy fixtures against Central Sparks and Sunrisers and are set to face Thunder at Welbeck Colliery CC in Mansfield tomorrow (10.30am).
While Sophie Ecclestone has been made available for Thunder, Sciver-Brunt has not yet been cleared to return from a busy winter’s work by the England management.
“They’ve obviously worked hard over the winter and have made a couple of signings, so I expect the Blaze to be a strong outfit this summer,” said Thunder coach Shaw.
“I think the move will enable them to grow and develop, to accelerate pretty quickly.
“Trent Bridge is a great place to play cricket. It’s a great surface, a great club in general.
“There will be more investment for them, and with the new logo and all the marketing we’ve seen, it’s clear they want to move forwards quite quickly.”
The Blaze, who also include ex-Thunder vice captain and opener Georgie Boyce, beat Central Sparks by 59 runs last Saturday before backing that up with a three-wicket success over Sunrisers at Chelmsford yesterday when chasing 160.
In yesterday’s clash, leg-spinner Glenn starred with 4-22 and 30, while Beaumont top-scored with 64.
Unfortunately, Blaze and Thunder have had contrasting starts to the season, with Thunder losing two from two.
After last Saturday’s 131-run reverse against South East Stars at Emirates Old Trafford, Shaw’s side were beaten by six wickets by Western Storm at Cardiff yesterday as the hosts chased 215.
“It will be a great occasion because it will be two teams looking to play exciting cricket with some decent players on both sides,” said Shaw.
“It’s games like this that will give us a real steer and yardstick as to where we’re at with our growth and development.
“But I see all the regions having developed this winter.
“With a few new signings and the England players being available bit by bit, I see this period coming up being a particularly high standard across the board.”
Despite defeat in Wales yesterday, there were a couple of bright points for Thunder.
Emma Lamb opened up with a fine 74 in 214 all out before debutant UAE international seamer Mahika Gaur claimed a brilliant 3-39 from 10 overs, including two new ball wickets as Storm fell to 11-2 in their pursuit of a testing target.
Opposing player to watch
Tammy Beaumont is England’s fifth highest all-time run-scorer in One-Day International cricket with 3,505 runs in 103 matches, and the aggressive opener is in fine form.
Beaumont, 32-years-old, has posted scores of 60 and 64 in the opening two RHF Trophy games of the season. Prior to that, she scored a blistering 71 in a friendly win over the Northern Diamonds.
Beaumont is likely to open the batting in this summer’s Ashes alongside Emma Lamb - in both Test Match and ODI Cricket.
Previous meeting
With the Blaze being a new side, this is the first meeting between the two sides. But they have replaced the Loughborough-based Lightning side in regional cricket, with many of the same players and staff still involved with the side.
The only competitive meetings between Thunder and Lightning last season came in the Charlotte Edwards Cup T20 competition, with both sharing a five-wicket win apiece.
The Thunder win came at Emirates Old Trafford in early June when Sophie Ecclestone took a stunning 5-15 to bowl the visitors out for just 103.
Emma Lamb then hit a breezy 42 to ensure victory inside 16 overs.
Squad News:
Ellie Threlkeld (c/wk), Danielle Collins, Naomi Dattani, Deandra Dottin, Sophie Ecclestone, Mahika Gaur, Alex Hartley, Liberty Heap, Laura Jackson, Emma Lamb, Fi Morris, Tara Norris, Olivia Thomas, Seren Smale