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: Western Storm v Thunder
Venue: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Date: Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Start time: 2.30pm
What's the lowdown?
Western Storm are third in Group B with one win and two draws from their opening three matches, but are just four points off top spot. Storm were stunned in their Charlotte Edwards Cup opener, becoming the first team to lose to Sunrisers, but bounced back in a rain-affected clash with Thunder at Chester to capture their maiden win. Fi Morris was the star on that occasion, smashing 19 runs from eight balls as Storm chased a 33-run DLS target.
However, their joy was shortlived as Jenny Gunn hit a four off the final ball of their game to seal a one-wicket win for Northern Diamonds in their final match before The Hundred.
Thunder, meanwhile, have two wins under their belt and sit at the top of a tight Group B, one point clear of Northern Diamonds, whom they beat in their tournament opener. However, Thunder's best performance came at Emirates Old Trafford when Emma Lamb hit an unbeaten 111 off 61 balls to power her side to 186 for 1. Unsurprisingly, Sunrisers failed to chase down their massive target and Thunder earned a bonus point after bowling them out for 115.
Who should I watch out for?
Emma Lamb has been Thunder's form white-ball batter this year and has scored 190 runs at a strike rate of 154.57 in the Charlotte Edwards Cup. She is 99 runs ahead of the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament.
However, perhaps the player to watch for Thunder is wicketkeeper Ellie Threlkeld. After struggling with the bat since the start of last season, Threlkeld came into her own against Sunrisers, scoring 26 not out to double her T20 run tally for 2021 and pushing Lamb towards her century with some strong running. With the gloves, too, she is electric, standing intimidatingly close to the stumps and whipping the bails off at lightning speed.
For Western Storm, Katie George is the one to watch for entertainment value. She might not be able to bowl at the moment because of injury but she's certainly making up for it in the field, as her acrobatics in the deep during The Hundred demonstrated.
With the bat, Fi Morris showed her free-scoring capabilities in the reverse fixture, smashing four boundaries off a single Sophia Turner over as her side chased 33 runs from five overs. She's Storm's second-highest run-scorer for the season with 43 runs and may have a psychological edge over some of Thunder's bowlers.
What's the team news?
Western Storm: Heather Knight and Anya Shrubsole are unavailable for Western Storm after being selected in England's white-ball squad to face New Zealand.
Western Storm squad: Sophie Luff, Fi Morris, Katie George, Georgia Hennessey, Danielle Gibson, Nat Wraith, Alex Griffiths, Nicole Harvey, Lauren Parfitt, Lauren Filer, Mollie Robbins, Emma Corney, Steph Hutchins, Emily Edgcombe, Niamh Holland, Beth Gammon
Latest Western Storm news: Click here
Latest Thunder news: Click here
How do I follow the match?
TV/stream Western Storm will carry a live stream on their 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?
Keep up to date with the MetOffice's rolling forecast for Cardiff here.
Tickets
Adult tickets cost £10 while under-16s can watch the match for £1.
Click here to visit the Glamorgan (Sophia Gardens) ticket office.
Travel
Address: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, CF11 9XR
On foot: The most popular and pleasant means of reaching Sophia Gardens Cardiff from Cardiff Central Station is on foot. The final part of the 15-minute leisurely stroll takes you along the banks of the River Taff through Bute Park and the grounds of Cardiff Castle.
By bike: A popular way to travel to the Stadium is by bicycle and we are in the ideal location to do so i.e. via the Taff Trail which runs from Cardiff Bay to Brecon. The Stadium has 25 cycle parking spaces located underneath the Altodigital stand and 10 spaces by Gate Two.
By car
From London: Travel time is approximately 3 hours via the M4 Westbound.
From Birmingham: Travel time is approximately 2.5 hours via M5 Southbound and then the M4 Westbound.
From the East: Exit the M4 at Junction 29 and follow the A48M towards Llandaff. Join Cardiff Road. Sophia Gardens Cardiff is situated off Sophia Close which is on Cathedral Road.
From the West: Exit the M4 at Junction 33. Follow the A4232 for 6.2 miles and exit on the slip road onto Leckwith Road. Follow the A4161 and then turn left onto Cathedral Road (A4119). Turn right onto Sophia Close where Sophia Gardens Cardiff is situated.
Parking
Public Car Parking: Parking inside the stadium on match days is limited to players, officials and permit holders only. Public car parking is available in the Sophia Gardens Pay and Display car park situated within Sophia Close.
Disabled Parking: A limited number of disabled parking bays are available for every match day held at the Stadium and these are allocated on an application basis. For more details please contact reception on 02920 419 381 or info@glamorgancricket.co.uk
Park and Ride: Glamorgan Cricket do operate a Park and Ride service on international and other major match days. This service usually runs from Cardiff City Stadium to the drop off point in Sophia Close.
By train: For details of the regular inter-city and high-speed trains that run between Cardiff and all major towns and cities including London, Bristol, Birmingham and Swansea, please visit: www.nationalrail.co.uk
By bus: Cardiff Bus services run regularly between Cardiff Central Station and Cathedral Road (adjacent to Sophia Gardens Cardiff) Routes going via Cathedral Road include:
Number 25 Circular Service to Llandaff North and North Road
Number 62 service to Llandaff, Danescourt, Pentrebane, Fairwater and Canton
Number 63 service to Ffordd Berllan, Central Station, Radyr and Llandaff.
By coach: Regular high-speed coaches leave from Cardiff from most major locations in the UK. Please visit www.nationalexpress.com for further information.
Prediction?
A close encounter in Cardiff but one which Thunder should edge, provided a few of their stars are firing.
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