Match Preview and Squad News: Thunder vs Northern Diamonds
Squad News
Thunder look to bounce back on home turf as they face Northern Diamonds at Sale CC.
There is only one change to the squad that faced Vipers as Danielle Collins returns to the squad after missing out through injury.
Squad
Ellie Threlkeld*, Olivia Bell, Alice Clarke, Danni Collins, Naomi Dattani, Laura Delany, Phoebe Graham, Liberty Heap, Laura Jackson, Hannah Jones, Fi Morris, Daisy Mullan, Tara Norris, Seren Smale
Match Preview
Captain Ellie Threlkeld has paid tribute to “absolute legend” Paul Shaw as Thunder get ready to farewell their popular head coach.
Former England coach Shaw is leaving the region after four seasons in charge in order to spend more time with his family on the other side of the Pennines.
First, though, he will aim to make himself slightly less popular with those folk on the wrong side of the hill by beating reigning Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy champions Northern Diamonds at Sale on Wednesday (10.30am).
It is the penultimate round of 50-over group fixtures, and Thunder’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages remain just about alive.
They are six points behind third-placed Southern Vipers with 10 still available. Thunder would need to win both of their remaining games and hope for a remarkable run of results from elsewhere to go their way in order to advance.
The Diamonds are also in the race for a top-three finish, and better placed. But Thunder could end their title defence with a victory just down the road from Emirates Old Trafford.
While Thunder were beaten last time out against Southern Vipers at Arundel on Saturday, the Diamonds beat Western Storm at Taunton 24 hours later.
If Thunder do win this one, they will have completed a highly-impressive seasonal treble over the Yorkshire-based side.
Earlier this season, Thunder beat the Diamonds in the Charlotte Edwards Cup at Blackpool to seal qualification for Finals Day in June, while they also won the first of two 50-over fixtures at York’s Clifton Park the following month.
Achieving that feat would have seemed far-fetched a couple of season ago, but being on the verge of doing it now owes much to the good work of Shaw.
And, says Threlkeld, it will be tough to see him leave the North West, where he has worked since the regional structure started at the height of the Covid pandemic in 2020.
“I wasn’t too surprised, but I was devastated when I found out he was leaving - and I think the rest of the group are as well,” admitted Threlkeld, whom Shaw appointed as his captain at the start of last summer.
“That just shows how big a part Shawsy has played in where we’ve got to now.
“If you think back three years to when we started, he’s done a hell of a lot to help us push forwards to where we are now, which is challenging for trophies.
“He’s done a lot of stuff behind the scenes which a lot of the girls don’t even know about, to be honest.
“He’s been an absolute legend, and it will be sad to see him go. But he’s leaving the group in a much better place than it was when he started with us.
“He’s done his job, and I’m sure whoever comes in will do a good job as well. We’ve all got to be open-minded about that and look ahead to the future.”
Shaw arrived at Thunder with previous experience of helping to lay foundations for a new structure, for he was the man in charge of England’s women in early 2014.
“Yeah, he’s done similar with us to what he did with England in many ways,” continued Threlkeld. “I’ve absolutely no doubt that we’ll have success in the future, and I know a lot of that will be down to Shawsy’s work in laying the foundations.
“He might not get the rewards that he deserves, really. But a lot of the people in our dressing room will know that a lot of it is down to him.
“He’s a basics coach, and I love the fact he’s a people-orientated person as well. The people he’s brought in around him, it’s a great environment to be involved in.
“We want to give him a real good send-off over the next couple of games.”
As a captain and coach, Threlkeld and Shaw have developed a close relationship. And it’s been strengthened even further by the fact Shaw specialises in wicketkeeping coaching.
“He’s been a real leadership mentor, he’s been my keeping coach and my head coach as well,” added Threlkeld.
“I can’t thank him enough for what he’s done for me.
“He’s been a hugely important figure in the last few years of my career.
I’m sad to see him go, but I know that he’s always on the end of a phone if I need him.”
New ball seamer Sophia Turner, on loan with the Diamonds for the remainder of the season, will be unable to play against her parent club in this fixture.
Opposing player to watch
Lauren Winfield-Hill has had another sparkling summer at regional level.
The wicketkeeper-opener is on the fringes of England recognition but hasn’t been involved since the early stages of the season.
That has allowed her to play a full campaign for the Diamonds in both 50-over and T20 cricket, and she has scored 744 runs at an average of 41.33, including five fifties and a hundred.
Winfield-Hill, 33, is a classy and aggressive opener.
Since the start of last summer, which saw the Diamonds win the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, she has scored 10 fifties and three hundreds in 26 matches in this competition.
In Sunday’s win over Western Storm at Taunton, she top-scored with 83.
Previous meeting
Naomi Dattani starred with bat and ball as Thunder registered their first win of this season’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy with a six-wicket victory against the Diamonds at York on July 11.
Dattani claimed four wickets to help bowl Diamonds out for 167 and played a crucial innings of 46, sharing a 98-run stand with Deandra Dottin - who made 54 - as Thunder completed their chase with 12.2 overs to spare.
Lauren Winfield-Hill top-scored for Diamonds with 33, but their total never appeared enough as the defending champions slipped to their fourth defeat of the competition.
The Diamonds’ innings was a story of wickets falling at regular intervals as Thunder produced an excellent display with the ball and in the field.
Dattani had Winfield-Hill caught behind amidst an excellent 4-16 from 6.5 overs of left-arm seam, while Liberty Heap spun her way to two wickets.
In reply at Clifton Park, Thunder were never in serious trouble. There may have been the odd nervous glance in the dressing room at 58-3 after 12 overs, but the double Ds came together - Dattani and Dottin - to seal the win.