SQUAD NEWS AND PREVIEW: Southern Vipers v Lancashire Thunder
Ellie Threlkeld is confident Lancashire Thunder can claim a significant early-season scalp when they tackle Southern Vipers in Buckinghamshire on Wednesday.
Southern Vipers v Lancashire Thunder
Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy
Wednesday May 1, 2024, 10.30am
Sir Paul Getty's Ground, Wormsley
Thunder squad to face Southern Vipers:
Ellie Threlkeld (c/wk), Olivia Bell, Danielle Collins, Naomi Dattani, Phoebe Graham, Laura Jackson, Grace Johnson, Hannah Jones, Katie Mack, Fi Morris, Tara Norris, Seren Smale, Shachi Pai
Thunder take on the reigning Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy champions at the picturesque Getty ground at Wormsley (10.30am) bidding to bounce back from Saturday’s home defeat to Western Storm.
Captain Threlkeld and her side have lost two and won one so far in the 50-over competition and will bid to spark a run of consistency with victory over a side who have won five trophies across four seasons of regional cricket heading into 2024.
They have won this competition three times added to a pair of triumphs in the Charlotte Edwards Cup T20 tournament.
"I'd back us to beat anyone in the country when we play our best cricket,” said wicketkeeper-batter Threlkeld.
"They're a strong side, but I think everyone in this competition is a strong side now. The beauty of that is that everyone can beat everyone.
“It will be a tough game, but it's about how we bounce back now.”
Thunder have lost matches against Northern Diamonds and Storm so far. Sandwiched in between was a win over Sunrisers at Emirates Old Trafford last week. The thumping manner of that victory, by 142 runs, showed exactly what the Red Rose side are capable of.
The Vipers have lost one and won two so far. They bounced back from an opening day defeat at South East Stars with home wins over Central Sparks and Northern Diamonds.
The Sparks win was at Wormsley last Wednesday and the Diamonds at Hampshire’s Utilita Bowl.
"I don't look at them and think we can't beat them,” continued Threlkeld, whose side are looking for a first 50-over win over the Vipers at the fifth attempt.
“Yes, they're defending champions. But that means nothing to me. I'm fully confident in our team.
"There's a lot of belief in the dressing room, and there will be a lot of girls disappointed after Saturday. We can do better, and that's what we will be looking to do.
“We are looking to bounce back and put in a better performance with the bat and look for the bowlers to keep doing what they are doing.”
Having restricted the Storm to 252-6 on Saturday, Thunder were bowled out for 186, with Threlkeld contributing 32, added to Emma Lamb’s 38 and 36 for Kate Cross. Earlier, Sophie Ecclestone claimed a brilliant 3-16 from 10 overs of left-arm spin.
Ecclestone’s England team-mate Charlie Dean enjoyed a good day for the Vipers in their victory over the Diamonds on Saturday, claiming four wickets with her off-spin following a middle order 29.
On Thunder’s display against Storm, Threlkeld added: "I thought we did the first half of the game pretty well. We were pretty happy at half-time on a decent pitch. We were pretty confident we could knock it off (253 target).
“Unfortunately, we didn’t, and some of the batters didn't have a good day. We've got to stay positive as a group, but we didn't bat well enough.
"We had a really good start with the ball and everyone did their job pretty well. I thought they were probably par or slightly under par. Credit to the way Storm batted. I thought Sophie Luff (76 not out) built a brilliant innings and anchored their innings really well.”
Vipers continue to be captained by Georgia Adams, who has batted lower down the order in the last two games having dislocated a finger in their season-opener against the Stars.
Charlotte Edwards is still coach, and they have signed Australian batting all-rounder Charli Knott on an overseas deal. She has enjoyed a fine start to the season with a fifty, two forties and five wickets with her off-spinners.
Thunder’s seam bowling all-rounder Tara Norris could play against her former side.
Opposition player to watch:
Queenslander Charli Knott has settled in to life with the Vipers like a dream.
She has posted scores of 41, 58 not out and 40 added to a pair of two-wicket returns and a one-for with her off-spinners. The 21-year-old has been batting at number three.
This will be the Australian’s 50th career List A appearance. Prior to joining the Vipers, all of her previous appearances had come in Queensland Maroon, debuting in late 2018.
Slight in stature, Knott, who has already represented Australia A, has deceptive power in the top and middle order.
She was part of the Brisbane Heat team which lost in the final of the most recent Big Bash League T20 competition in December.
Previous meeting:
Thunder will bid for their first 50-over victory over Vipers at the fifth time of asking, though they oh so nearly achieved success against them at Southport last July when the two regions played out a thrilling tie.
The two sides met again in September at Arundel when Vipers claimed a 64-run victory.
Georgia Adams top-scored with 71 for the Vipers, who elected to bat, in their 271 all out. Off-spinners Liv Bell and Fi Morris claimed three wickets apiece for the visitors.
In reply, Morris continued her good day with 52 from number four in the order, but unfortunate she didn’t get the kind of support required from her batting colleagues.
She had to recover Thunder from 33-5, and they gained respectability on 173 all out. Tara Norris added 32 from number eight.
New ball seamer Mary Taylor struck four times for the hosts, who went on to win the competition.