Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, weather forecast and everything else you need to know ahead of the latest round of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy...
Fixture: Central Sparks v North West Thunder
Venue: New Road, Worcester
Dates: Saturday, June 12, 2021
Start time: 10.30am
What's the lowdown?
Central Sparks are sitting pretty at the top of the table, three games unbeaten to start the season and the scalp of Southern Vipers (now languishing in fourth place) in their possession. Eve Jones’ side are in imperious form, chasing down 279 in their season opener against Diamonds before defending 295 and 224 with ease against Western Storm and Vipers, respectively.
Thunder, meanwhile, are once again struggling. After losing to Western Storm in their season opener – a match they shouldn’t have lost after leaving Heather Knight’s side needing 40 off 27 balls with one wicket in hand – they found their mojo against Sunrisers, completing a morale-boosting 36-run win. However, against Lightning in round three, a humbling 134-run defeat sent them back to square one.
Both sides will be without their England representatives, with Sparks losing Amy Jones and pace sensation Emily Arlott while Sophie Ecclestone and Kate Cross are absent for Thunder. But what impact, if any, will this have on the outcome?
Who should I watch out for?
Central Sparks pacer Issy Wong has been top-draw this season, taking eight wickets from her 25.5 overs and bowling with an economy of 4.18. And with her striking haircut, she’s hard to miss on the field. The only question is, how will she cope without her bowling partner Arlott?
Also keep an eye on Sparks batters Gwen Davies, Eve Jones and Marie Kelly. Without Amy Jones (who scored two centuries in three matches), the pressure is on the top-order trio, who have scored a combined 158 runs in three matches, to score the big runs.
Having seen Emily Arlott selected for England off the back of good domestic form, Thunder’s Emma Lamb will have a point to prove with the bat. The 23-year-old scored 233 runs in four innings in the Women’s County Championship and started for Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy campaign with a fine century against Storm. In total this season, Lamb has 181 runs at a strike rate of 92.82 – a threat.
What's the team news?
Central Sparks have received the unexpected boost of Sarah Glenn being available to them again after she was released from England's Test squad.
Latest Central Sparks news: Click here
Latest North West Thunder news: Click here
What's the weather forecast?
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Worcester: Click here
How do I follow the match?
TV/stream: Central Sparks' YouTube channel will carry a stream. 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?
Tickets
Tickets are priced at £10 for adults and £1 for under-17s. Tickets must be purchased in advance
Click here to visit the Worcestershire box office.
Travel
Address: 13 New Rd, Worcester WR2 4RL
By train: Mainline station Worcester Foregate Street. This station is just an 11-minute walk across the river to the ground.
Leave the station and walk south on Foregate Street towards Shaw Street. Turn right onto Angel Street before turning left onto Angel Place. Next, turn right onto Broad Street before turning right onto Deansway (A44). Continuing on this road for less than half a mile, the ground is on the left.
By car: Tybridge Street Car Park is the ground’s car park, however the ground is only a five-minute walk from the town centre.
Newport Street and Copenhagen Street are the next nearest to the ground, only eight and 11-minute walks away respectively.
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 county ground on your left.
Prediction?
The absence of their England trio is a potential spanner in the works for Sparks but Thunder are arguably in a worse position given their reliance on spinner Sophie Ecclestone. Sparks win.
OTHER MATCH PREVIEWS
Northern Diamonds v South East Stars
Western Storm v Southern Vipers
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