MATCH PREVIEW AND SQUAD NEWS: Sunrisers vs Lancashire Thunder, RHFT 2024
Sunrisers v Lancashire Thunder
Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy
Sunday June 30, 2024, 10.30am
The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford
Squad to face Sunrisers
Ellie Threlkeld*+, Danni Collins, Phoebe Graham, Naomi Dattani, Liberty Heap, Laura Jackson, Hannah Jones, Emma Lamb, Katie Mack, Fi Morris , Sophie Morris, Tara Norris, Seren Smale
Kyle Hogg, Lancashire Thunder’s lead bowling coach, believes simplicity will be key to the region’s hopes of success in this season’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.
The 50-over competition resumes this weekend following a near two-month break for T20 cricket.
Thunder won two and lost four of their opening six matches through April and May and, with eight still to play, need to hit the ground running quickly to boost their pursuit of a semi-final place.
Hogg and co are sat fifth in the table, eight points off the all-important top four places, and face league leaders Sunrisers at Chelmsford on Sunday (10.30am).
The former Lancashire men’s seamer said: “Myself, Chris Read, Clinton Perrin, Stephen Parry (Thunder’s coaching staff), you know - because you’ve been there and done it - that in one-day cricket, if you can get on a roll you find ways to win all the time.
“It’s about finding that consistency because we’ve had some unbelievable performances and some pretty disappointing ones in a short period of time.
“Hopefully, we can do more of the things we’ve done well, someone can stick their hands up and we can get on a roll. There’s no reason to say why we can’t go and win it.
“I think we’ve been in most of the games. We’ve had a chance to win most of them. But you look across the board and see that most teams are up and down.
“If you look at where the girls are now compared to 12 months ago, there’s been some really good stuff.”
Thunder won early-season RHFT matches against Sunrisers at Emirates Old Trafford and the Blaze at Trent Bridge - the first by 142 runs and the second by one wicket.
“The hardest thing is keeping it simple,” continued Hogg, whose role with Thunder’s bowlers encompasses both the Academy and senior squads.
“We can analyse and look at doing this and that. But when we kept it simple and did the basics well, that was when we had most success.
“Keep the stumps in play and build partnerships. The longer you can hold those periods, the better. When we did that well, we won games of cricket.
“Fifty overs, it’s such a long time. You kind of forget how long it is because we’re so used to turning on the TV and seeing teams get 350-400.
That type of cricket has become the norm.
“But, if you build a partnership and put runs on the board batting first, all of a sudden teams find it difficult.
“As coaches, we’ve got to keep minds as clear as possible.”
Thunder’s home win over Sunrisers came in the second round of fixtures of late April, with Australian overseas batter Katie Mack underpinning a 292-5 total with a superb 100 off 110 balls from number three in the order.
She shared a third-wicket stand of 191 with Fi Morris, who also contributed a fine 89.
“We’ve brought in Katie who has been so good around the group,” added Hogg. “She’s the senior pro who has guided a lot of the younger girls through given everything she’s done in the game.
“That’s what we’ve needed - just some more calmer performances in the crucial moments.”
Sunrisers are captained by opening batter Grace Scrivens, who - like Mack - has a 50-over century to her name this summer.
Their overseas seamer, Australian Nicola Hancock, is the leading wicket-taker in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy with 14 wickets.
This is the first of four matches between Sunday and July 14 before the competition breaks again until late August whilst the Hundred is being played.
Opposition player to watch
Opening batter and captain Grace Scrivens is the third leading run-scorer in the competition with 267 from six matches, including a best of 118 not out.
The Kent native is just behind Thunder’s in-form Seren Smale on the list - she has 286 from six.
Scrivens is very highly thought of within the England hierarchy. She captained the Under 19s to the final of the T20 World Cup in South Africa at the start of last year and is still only 20-years-old.
She also played alongside Smale for England A on tour of India and New Zealand during the most recent winter.
A classy and composed left-hander returns to 50-over cricket after the break for T20 having had a mixed Charlotte Edwards Cup; two fifties in 10 innings.
Previous meeting
A brilliant century from Katie Mack, added to 89 and a wicket for Fi Morris, helped Thunder to a resounding 142-run win over Sunrisers at Emirates Old Trafford in late April.
Thunder bounced back from an opening day defeat to Diamonds this season at the first attempt, winning their opening home game in impressive fashion.
Australian overseas batter Mack hit a busy 100 off 110 balls from number three, sharing 191 for the third wicket with all-rounder Morris, who was excellent as well.
They advanced Thunder, inserted, from 32-2 in the ninth over to 223-2 in the 42nd.
The Mack and Morris partnership was the second highest for any stand in the history of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and contributed to Thunder’s imposing 292-5.
And there was never any likelihood of Sunrisers overhauling that total, especially in the face of two England bowlers in Kate Cross and Sophie Ecclestone, who equally shared six wickets.
Sunrisers were bowled out for 150, with seamer Cross returning 3-21 from 8.1 overs and left-arm spinner Ecclestone 3-40 from 10.
The visitors lost regular wickets and failed to recover from 71-5 in the 21st over.