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 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy...
Fixture: Sunrisers v Southern Vipers
Venue: County Ground, Chelmsford
Dates: Sunday, September 12, 2021
Start time: 10.30am
What's the lowdown?
Defending champions Southern Vipers are once again the league leaders this season, winning four of their five matches and picking up three bonus points along the way. Central Sparks are the only side to beat the Vipers in a 50-over match in Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy history but Charlotte Edwards' side bounced back from their shock defeat with wins against Western Storm and Thunder, bowling the latter out for just 110 at Filkin's Lane on Friday.
At the other end of the are Sunrisers, who are still searching for their first 50-over win as a club. The home side have lost all five matches this season, most recently losing to Central Sparks by six wickets in a rain-affected game at Northwood.
These two sides are yet to meet in 2021 in any format. However, in 2020, Southern Vipers won both encounters - the first by seven wickets, the second by 49 runs.
Who should I watch out for?
Tara Norris and Paige Scholfield both bowled career-best List A figures for Southern Vipers against Thunder, taking 4 for 14 and 3 for 16, respectively. Norris, in particular, in worth keeping an eye on. The 23-year-old pacer shone in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, taking a team-leading 13 wickets, and looks to be continuing that form in the longer white-ball format.
For Sunrisers, the likely return of Mady Villiers will be a huge boost to their XI. Not only a gun fielder (as she proved in England's second T20I against New Zealand at Hove), Villiers is also a solid and highly experience right-arm spinner, with 43 wickets and an economy of 3.92 from her 42 career List A matches.
What's the team news?
Southern Vipers will be without Charlie Dean and Danni Wyatt after both players were included in England's 15-woman ODI squad to face New Zealand. Maia Bouchier (Vipers) and Mady Villiers (Sunrisers) could both return following their stints in England's T20 squad.
Sunrisers squad: Cordelia Griffith, Grace Scrivens, Lissy MacLeod, Fran Wilson, Naomi Dattani, Kelly Castle, Jo Gardner, Mia Rogers, Sonali Patel, Emily Thorpe, Kate Coppack
Southern Vipers squad: Georgia Adams, Ella McCaughan, Maia Bouchier, Georgia Elwiss, Gaby Lewis, Paige Scholfield, Emily Windsor, Tara Norris, Carla Rudd, Lauren Bell, Charlotte Taylor
Latest Sunrisers news: Click here
Latest Southern Vipers news: Click here
What's the weather forecast?
Cloudy skies with sunny intervals and temperatures peaking around 21 degrees Celsius.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Chelmsford: Click here
How do I follow the match?
TV/stream: Sunrisers will offer a live stream via the Essex YouTube channel: 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
Adult tickets are £10 while Under-18s can watch the match for £5.
Click here to buy through the Essex box office.
Travel
Address: County Ground, New Writtle Street, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 OPG
By train: Chelmsford Railway Station is approximately 10 minutes' walk from the ground.
Coming out of the station, walk north on Duke Street and then turn left onto Park Road. Turn right going between Middleditch Court and Norman Court before turning left. When reaching the Parkway main road, turn left before quickly turning right to cross into the Park.
Having crossed the River Can, keep straight until hitting New Writtle Street where you must turn left. After approximately 350 feet, turn left and the ground is on the right.
By car: The stadium has a pay and display carpark with cash payment machines located on site.
Chelmsford City Centre’s High Chelmer multi-storey car par is a five-minute walk from the ground and can be accessed via New London Road after turning left off Parkway. This car park’s post code is CM2 OLG.
There are two park and ride sites in Chelmsford which offer bus services into the city centre. The first site is Chelmer Valley, postcode CM2 7RZ, and the second is located at CM3 3PR.
By bus: Chelmsford Bus Station is on Duke Street, right next to the Railway Station. Bus No.42 and No.100 stop on New London road, approximately a two-minute walk to the ground.
Prediction?
Only Central Sparks have got the better of Southern Vipers in the 50-over format, and the defending champions should easily keep that record intact. Vipers win.
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