MATCH PREVIEW AND SQUAD NEWS: Thunder vs Southern Vipers
Squad news
50 over action returns to Southport for Thunder as they face Southern Vipers tomorrow, starting at 10:30am.
One change to the squad that lost out at New Road against Sparks is the return of Emma Lamb from England duties in place of Daisy Mullan.
Lamb featured in England's Ashes test match against Australia at Trent Bridge and will be looking to secure her place in the 50 over side for the ODI leg of the multi-format series.
Thunder Squad: Ellie Threlkled (c), Danni Collins, Naomi Dattani, Deandra Dottin, Mahika Gaur, Phoebe Graham, Liberty Heap, Laura Jackson, Emma Lamb, Fi Morris, Sophie Morris, Tara Norris, Seren Smale
Match preview
Laura Jackson is backing Thunder to make it third time lucky against title-winning Southern Vipers when the two meet in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy at Southport on Friday (10.30am).
Thunder have pushed the Vipers close on two occasions this season, both in the Charlotte Edwards T20 Cup. But the Vipers have come out on top on both occasions, including in the T20 semi-final at New Road last month.
Vipers are the two-time RHF Trophy winners and the defending back-to-back champions in the CE Cup.
But they have by no means had things all their own way in the ongoing RHFT campaign. They currently sit fifth in the table with two wins and three defeats from five games, including a loss to Sunrisers last time out on Sunday.
In fact, they have lost as many 50-over games this year as they have in each of the previous three seasons.
They are set to be boosted by the return of captain Georgia Adams and spinner Linsey Smith from England A duty, but seam bowling all-rounder Jackson sees no reason why Thunder can’t get off the mark at the seventh attempt with a notable scalp.
“They haven’t been as strong as they used to be,” she said.
“They’ve produced quite a few England players, and now they don’t have them.
“Fair play to them, but I was quite shocked that they went and won the Charlotte Edwards Cup. I thought Blaze were going to go all the way through.
“We have run them close a couple of times, and we’re confident we can beat them. We just need to make sure that we perform as a team and we’ll have a great chance.”
Unfortunately, that’s what Thunder weren’t able to do with the bat in Sunday’s defeat to Central Sparks at Worcester - their third in six games so far.
After a polished bowling display, including four wickets for Tara Norris and two apiece for Jackson and Mahika Gaur, limited Sparks to 233 all out, no one was able to provide support to opener Seren Smale, who starred with 94. Thunder fell from 108-3 to 204 all out.
It was, says Jackson, a missed opportunity.
“It was quite disappointing to be honest,” she continued.
“Sparks were missing some players, and we got some of their good players out and had a really good start. But we then just let a partnership get too big (Abbey Freeborn and Ami Campbell shared 139 for the fourth wicket from 27-3).
“Then no one else was able to help Seren out.
“It was definitely a game we could have won and should have won.
“Seren was amazing. She’s been one who’s is in and out depending on whether our England players are available, but she’s so eager to get runs. I’m really happy for her that she got that big score.
“I know she was disappointed not to get the ton, but it will come for her.”
The Sparks game on Sunday represented Jackson’s first competitive senior appearance of 2023.
She has been forced to remain patient for her chance, which came in the Midlands and - to a degree - was taken with encouraging figures of 2-37 from eight overs.
Satisfied but not ecstatic was Jackson’s assessment.
“I was a bit nervous going into it because it was my first game of the summer, and I’m pleased with how I went,” she said. “But, in an ideal world, I would have loved more because I wanted to come into the team with a standout performance and a bit of a boom.
“I really wanted to show the selectors, ‘This is why I should be in the team’.
“I’ve been training really hard and working on things that the coaches have wanted me to. It’s just about putting them into practice. Hopefully I’ve done enough to stay in for Friday.
“It’s been quite frustrating, to be honest.
“From having a decent last year, and the year before was quite good as well, it’s been quite disheartening not playing. But you have to stick your head down and work hard.
“I’ve been speaking to the coaches each week on things I can improve on, and I think think they’ve noticed I’m not one to shy away from the hard work.”
That hard work has included time in the nets, in the Thunder second team and for Rainford’s second team in the Liverpool Competition.
“When I first got told I wasn’t playing, I wanted to work on something that would get me back in,” she added.
“I’m trying to bowl quicker. I want to get some more rhythm in my run-up, and I’ve changed a few things.
“I’m really happy with where I am now. I think this is the best version of me bowling at the minute. I just want game time, and hopefully I can take the momentum from this and kick on.”
Opposing player to watch
Former England all-rounder Georgia Elwiss has been a key reason why the Vipers have gained success in the first three-and-a-half seasons of regional cricket, them claiming a pair of Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy titles and as many in the Charlotte Edwards Cup.
The experienced middle order batter and seam bowler is now going to be vital to their hopes of regaining the RHFT title they lost last September to the Northern Diamonds.
The Vipers have had more disruption with availability this season, both through England players and departures. For example, they lost Paige Scholfield to South East Stars ahead of the summer starting.
Elwiss, capped 54 times across the formats by England between 2011 and 2021, is a calm presence at the crease with bat and ball in hand, and she has scored 105 runs and taken seven wickets so far in this competition.
Previous meeting
Last September, the Vipers beat Thunder by four wickets at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton en-route to the final.
Emma Lamb (63) and captain Ellie Threlkeld (79) shared 116 for the fourth wicket to recover from 23-3 after Thunder had elected to bat, boosting the total to 203 all out.
Vipers then fell to 29-3 themselves in pursuit, with Phoebe Graham claiming two new ball wickets.
At 100-5 in the 26th over, the game was very much in the balance. But Emily Windsor’s composed 59 got the hosts home, supported ably by 31 from Paige Scholfield and 43 not out from Chloe Hill.
They won with three overs to spare.