Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, weather forecast and everything else you need to know ahead of the next round of the Charlotte Edwards Cup
Fixture: Central Sparks v Lightning
Venue: New Road, Worcester
Date: Saturday, August 28, 2021
Start time: 2.30pm
What's the lowdown?
Central Sparks stunned Southern Vipers in their first match since The Hundred, beating the Group A leaders for the second time in 2021 (the first coming in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy). Chasing an ambitious 163 to win, openers Marie Kelly and Eve Jones put on a 137-run first-wicket stand, with the former hitting a boundary to seal a six-wicket victory for her team and score an individual century.
Sparks have now won two of their four matches and sit seven points behind Vipers with two matches remaining, giving them an outside chance at qualification for the final.
Lightning, by contrast, are still searching for their first T20 win of the 2021 season. The East Midlands outfit were twice bowled out for sub-90 totals in their first three matches but produced a much more confident performance with the bat against South East Stars, posting 147 for 7. Unfortunately, they couldn't chase down Stars' total of 175 for 6, losing by 28 runs.
In the reverse fixture in Leicester, Central Sparks bowled Lightning out for 81 on their way to a six-wicket win.
Who should I watch out for?
As mentioned, Marie Kelly put on an eye-catching display against Southern Vipers, becoming just the second player, after Thunder's Emma Lamb, to score a century in the Charlotte Edwards Cup. The 25-year-old scoring her century off just 53 balls and found the boundary on 19 occasions - 18 fours and one six. In combination with captain Eve Jones (51 off 47), Sparks have a dynamite opening partnership.
With the ball, aside from the always box office Issy Wong, keep an eye out for Clare Boycott. The 27-year-old medium pacer slips under the radar in Central Sparks squad but in just her second appearance of the competition, she finished with figures of 0 for 20 from her four overs.
Abbey Freeborn is Lightning's runaway leading run-scorer, with 102 runs at a strike rate of 102. Against South East Stars, she scored 61 runs from 50 balls, including nine fours and one six, and could hold the key to Lightning finally picking up their first points. She also completed four stumpings with the gloves in that match. Sophie Munro also showed herself to be a destructive lower order option against the Stars, smashing two sixes on her way to 17 (eight balls). There's hope yet for Lightning's batting.
Among the bowlers, Lightning are relying on the experienced head of Sonia Odedra in the absence of Kathryn Bryce. The 33-year-old took 2 for 20 against South East Stars.
What's the team news?
Both sides are missing players who have been called up to England's white-ball squad to face New Zealand. Central Sparks will be without star wicketkeeper-batter Amy Jones and spinning allrounder Sarah Glenn. Opening batter Tammy Beaumont will be absent for Lightning.
Neither side has named their matchday squad in advance.
Latest Central Sparks news: Click here
Latest Lightning news: Click here
How do I follow the match?
TV/stream: Central Sparks will offer a live stream via the Worcestershire website. Click here
Radio: BBC Local Radio and the BBC Sport website will carry updates of the game.
Digital: The Cricketer will carry live scorecards and reports from every Women's Regional Competition match in 2021, as well as the latest breaking news from around the counties and exclusive features. Visit our Women's Regional Hub for more.
Going to the game?
What’s the weather forecast?
Cloudy skies are forecast over New Road with temperatures peaking at 21 degrees Celsius.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice's rolling forecast for Worcester here.
Tickets
Tickets are available for this fixture.
Click here to visit the Worcestershire ticket office.
Travel
Address: Worcestershire County Cricket Club, New Road, Worcester, WR2 4QQ
By car
From the north: From the M5 junction 7 follow the cricket stumps on the roadsigns to the ground.
From the south: From M5 junction 7 follow the cricket stumps on the road signs to the ground.
From the east: From the A422, Alcester, continue on this road to the roundabout junction with the A4440 (Swinesherd Way), take second exit at roundabout on to A44, continue to follow the A44 and it will lead you to New Road, the ground will be on your left.
From the west: From the A44, Evesham, stay on the A44 (east) and it will lead you to New Road, the ground will be on your left.
By bus
Once you are in Worcester city centre’s bus station that is beneath the Crown Gate Shopping Centre, walk out of the station, turn left, continue to walk straight ahead to a pedestrian crossing, walk across this and another pedestrian crossing, continue across the bridge over the Severn River and you will arrive at the ground on your left.
By train
Worcester Foregate Street is the closest train station to the ground and is approximately half a mile from the ground. To get to the ground from Foregate Street station turn left out of the main entrance, head towards the cross where you turn right onto Broad Street. Continue straight, across two pedestrian crossings to get to the other side of New Road, walk over the bridge and you will shortly arrive at the ground on your left.
Prediction?
Confidence will be high for the home side after defeating Southern Vipers. Central Sparks win.
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.