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: Southern Vipers v Central Sparks
Venue: 1st Central County Ground, Hove
Date: Wednesday, August 24, 2021
Start time: 2.30pm
What's the lowdown?
Southern Vipers are the side to beat in women's domestic cricket and have taken to the T20 game as quickly as they did the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. Charlotte Edwards's team are currently top of Group A, with three wins under their belt and have also taken a bonus point from every game to give themselves a six-point cushion over South East Stars.
The Vipers crushed Central Sparks in the reverse fixture, bowling their hosts out for just 83 at Edgbaston before chasing down their target in 13.1 overs to claim a routine eight-wicket win. They followed this up with equally dominant victories over Lightning and South East Stars, bowling the former out for 88 and chasing down 128 in 15.4 overs against the latter.
Central Sparks, meanwhile, are third in the table, with four points from their opening three matches. They recovered from their mauling at the hands of the Vipers to score 117 runs in 19 overs against South East Stars, but failed to defend their total. However, they finally got points on the board in the third outing, dismissing Lightning for 81 before a laboured run-chase saw them secure victory with just six balls remaining.
Who should I watch out for?
Lauren Bell was one of the domestic players who stood out against the overseas talent in The Hundred. The 20-year-old took 12 wickets at an average of 15.91 for Southern Brave to finish second in the side's wicket-taking charts behind Amanda-Jade Wellington. She already has two wickets and an economy of 4.45 from the opening three matches of the Charlotte Edwards Cup but will be tipped for bigger things after her performances for Southern Brave.
With the bat, Georgia Adams will likely have to become her side's primary run-getter after both Danni Wyatt and Maia Bouchier were called up to England's squad to face New Zealand. However, the Vipers skipper should take it in her stride. After all, she already has 89 runs, including a half-century against South East Stars, to her name.
For Central Sparks, the standout duo are pace bowlers Issy Wong and Em Arlott. Their new ball bowling lit up the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and while neither player was at their best during the first three T20s, they took six wickets apiece for Birmingham Phoenix during The Hundred and appear to have found their hostile, wicket-taking form.
However, perhaps a slightly less familiar name to keep a look out for is Georgia Davis, Sparks' 22-year-old spinner, who took 4 for 12 against Lightning and has a team-leading eight wickets in the Charlotte Edwards Cup.
Latest Southern Vipers news: Click here
Latest Central Sparks news: Click here
How do I follow the match?
TV/stream Southern Vipers will carry a live stream on Sussex CCC's 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?
What’s the weather forecast?
Keep up to date with the MetOffice's rolling forecast for Hove here.
Tickets
Adult tickets cost £7.
Click here to visit the Southern Vipers ticket office.
Travel
Address: The 1st Central County Ground, Eaton Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 3AN
Parking: There is very limited parking at the ground for Sussex Cricket members and those with disabled parking permits on County Championship matchdays.
Please note there is no parking available for all other matchdays.
There is a public car park, Norton Road Car Park (BN3 3BE), located a short walk West of The 1st Central County Ground opposite Hove Town Hall (charges apply between 8am and 8pm). For further information, click here.
By Train: Hove Railway Station is a 10-minute walk from the ground. Leave the station and head south on Goldstone Villas, at the bottom of the road turn left onto Eaton Road. Cross over The Drive continuing along Eaton Road, The 1st Central County Ground will appear on your left-hand side.
Brighton Railway Station is approximately a mile and a half from the club. There are regular rail services from Brighton Station to Hove Station. There is also a taxi rank located just outside Brighton Station, together with a bus terminal.
By Bus: The No.7 bus runs past the North (Cromwell Road) end of the ground with several stops near the ground. This service is the George Street, Hove to Brighton Marina service and serves both Hove and Brighton Rail Stations. This bus runs approximately every 10 minutes and around every 15 minutes on Sundays.
The 21 & 21A Brighton Marina to Goldstone Valley service stops outside the main entrance to the ground; these are less frequent but do run through the central Hove and Brighton areas.
For up-to-date information on these services and for detailed route map information, click here.
Prediction?
Central Sparks are the only team to have ever beaten Southern Vipers, pulling off a surprise victory in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. However, they're unlikely to repeat this feat on Wednesday. Vipers win.
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