Four sides from all corners of the country will meet at Surrey's home ground on Friday to do battle in the inaugural Kia Summer Smash Finals Day
Who are they?
Formerly the home of Somerset's England hopeful Lewis Gregory, the Plymouth-based side are now carving out a reputation as one of the best women's sides in the west. Crowned champions of the South West Women's League three times since being formed over a decade ago they also claimed back-to-back T20 titles in 2013 and 2014. The club have been playing at their Harewood Park home in some capacity since 1961, with evidence of their existence dating back to over 100 years previous.
How did they reach Finals Day?
At the Western Festival staged at Millfield School, Plympton were drawn against Bath and Huntley in Group B. They chase down 61 in their opening match before scoring 110 for 1 against Huntley en route to the semi-finals.
After limiting last four opponents Cornwood to just 30 for 4, Plympton secured their place in the final with an eight-wicket win to book a meeting with Newport. Having won the toss and chosen to bat first, Newport put on a decent score of 69 for 5, with Charlie Phillips keeping Plympton in the contest with figures of 2-6.
Opener Becca Halliday scored 31 and Imogen Beasley an unbeaten 20 to guide Plympton to victory in the eighth over to make them the first side to book their place at Finals Day.
Star players?
Phillips is perhaps the stand-out performer of this Plympton side, with her bowling displays both in the final and against Huntley in the group phase, when she finished with three wickets, particularly eye-catching. She also struck 35 in that preliminary game, making her one players to watch in both halves of the game.
How will they fare?
Their progress to Finals Day was underpinned by an ability to defend any score, which is a key characteristic of any successful limited overs side. But whether the surroundings of The Kia Oval will see them able to repeat those heroics remains to be seen.
Hursley Park celebrare winning the Southern Festival
Who are they?
Based in Winchester, the women's side at Hursley Park have been going since 2005. They have just under 100 members with their raft of female teams having played nearly 1,000 matches across their history. Indoor cricket plays a significant part of their strategy, and in 2015 they were crowned the ECB national champions in the competition's final year. Their success is not limited to domestic events however, having previously played against national sides Denmark, Austria and Spain.
How did they reach Finals Day?
A dramatic Southern Festival saw Hursley book their place at The Kia Oval. Staged at Wellington College in Berkshire, Hursley overcame Aldershot and Bells Yew Green in Group A, setting up a semi-final clash with Group C winners Sutton.
Set 43 to win, they chased the target down in five overs with Charlotte Taylor starring with a blistering 25 from 14 balls. Ansty would await in what would be a thrilling final.
Ansty recovered from 19 for 3 to set a target of 69, partly thanks to Ellen Burt top-scoring with 34. In reply, Hursley were steady in their approach but appeared to be heading for defeat, needing 26 from the final three overs. But Sophie Mitchelmore hit an unbeaten 14 at a strike-rate of 200 and Mel Story struck 12 to deliver a last-ball victory to take their place at Finals Day.
Star players?
Hannah Timmins keeps things tidy with the ball and in the field, where she is regarded as a specialist at gully. Emily Windsor is a jack-of-all-trades and can be expected to contribute with the bat near the top of the order, as first change with the ball and in the ring in the field. Taylor is undoubtedly the danger batter and has the ability to clear the boundary at regular intervals.
How will they fare?
Having pulled off an astonishing victory to reach Finals Day, Hursley have proved they have the mental fortitude to deal with the demands of the competition. Having enjoyed decent success in other women's competitions, they have the pedigree to ensure they can repeat that when silverware is on the line again.
Sessay were Northern Festival champions
Who are they?
With their men's team having enjoyed plenty of success in the National Village Cup, their female side are bidding to follow in their footsteps at The Kia Oval. The women's team was set up in 2015 and recently won the Yorkshire Indoor League at Headingley. Playing in the Yorkshire Premier League, they have also qualified for the National Finals of the Club Cup T20. As the club goes from strength to strength, they are becoming an increasingly significant presence on the women's cricket map.
How did they reach Finals Day?
Sessay produced arguably the most impressive campaign of any of the Kia Summer Smash Finals Day qualifiers during the Northern Festival at St Peter's School in York. In both of their two Group A matches against Brooksbottom and Burton Leonard they broke the record for the highest score in the competition's history.
They put on 132 for 0 in their opening match before eclipsing that score with 138 for 2, to sweep into the final, where they would face Wrenthorpe. After being put into bat, the runs flowed once again with Jess Watson scoring 34 not out, a knock which included five fours.
Wrenthorpe were set 93 to win but two wickets each for Charlotte Middleton and Sophie Richardson curbed their progress. Bex Coe scored 22 but it wasn't enough as Sessay prevailed by 39 runs.
Star players?
The Emeralds' top three are the most formidable in the competition. Watson, Adrianna Darlow and Leah Dobson are some of the most capable hitters around and will be confident of giving Sessay a decent start.
The bowling attack has plenty of variety, with a combination of seam and spin at their disposal. Left-armer Richardson is both potent and economical and spinner Middleton is also worth keeping an eye on.
How will they fare?
If asked to defend a total, it will be fascinating to see how their bowling attack responds if their batting line-up cannot give them a solid start. There is plenty of explosiveness in this Sessay team however, and The Kia Oval could be just the venue to bring out their very best form.
Berkswell won the Midlands Festival
Who are they?
Since being set up by first XI captain Sarah Ginn in 2015, Berkswell have played host to two women's teams both of whom play in the Midlands League. They also compete in a Warwickshire T20 league and link up with other local clubs to provide opportunities for your girls to get into the sport. Despite their humbling beginnings, they reached Finals Days of the T20 Cup last year.
How did they reach Finals Day?
Drawn against Bourne and Street Stars in Group C, Berkswell secured passage to the knock-out stage where they faced Welbeck for a place in the final. Set 32 to win from five overs Tyler Davison top scored with nine to set up a clash with Charlbury.
Davison proved to be the difference again with the bat, accumulating an enterprising innings of 28 not out which included two sixes and a four. Chasing a target of 66 to win, Charlbury were 21 for 1 after three overs before Sophie Buckton produced a triple-wicket maiden to secure a fabulous victory and their place as the final side in the inaugural Kia Summer Smash Finals Day.
Star players?
It is hard to ignore the contribution of Davison and Laura Crofts, who are likely to open both the batting and the bowling come Finals Day. Both players have the ability to hit quick runs and tie up an end and could act as a real asset.
The fine individual performance from spinner Buckton sent the Coventry-based side into the last four and such a display makes her one of the players to watch once the competition reaches the sharp end.
How will they fare?
It was a really dominant display from Berkswell at the Midlands Festival and while every team has stand-out players, they have an abundance of match winners within their ranks. That makes them a real threat.
FIXTURES
2.00pm: Hursley Park (South) v Plympton (West)
3.15pm: Sessay (North) v Berskwell (Midlands)
4.30pm: Kia Summer Smash Final
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