Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy
The Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy was an English women's cricket domestic competition, which took place between 29 August and 27 September 2020. It featured eight teams in two groups, and had a final. The competition was won by Southern Vipers, who beat Northern Diamonds in the final. The tournament was named after former England captain Rachael Heyhoe Flint, Baroness Heyhoe-Flint, who died in 2017.[1]
Dates | 29 August 2020 – 27 September 2020 |
---|---|
Administrator(s) | England and Wales Cricket Board |
Cricket format | 50-over cricket |
Tournament format(s) | Round robin and final |
Champions | Southern Vipers (1st title) |
Participants | 8 |
Matches played | 25 |
Most runs | Georgia Adams (500) |
Most wickets | Charlotte Taylor (15) |
Official website | ecb.co.uk |
Background and format
The Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy was a 50-over cricket tournament created in 2020 so that English women's cricket could be played in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic.[2][3] The competition is expected to be a one-off event for 2020, with a new women's 50-over competition launched for 2021.[4] All matches took place behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] The England and Wales Cricket Board made some matches available to watch online,[5] and the final was shown live on Sky Sports.[6] The competition was named after former England captain Rachael Heyhoe Flint, Baroness Heyhoe-Flint, who died in 2017.[2]
The competition featured eight teams, who represented regional hubs,[2][3] which were formed during an overhaul of the English women's domestic cricket structure.[7] The teams were separated into a North and South Group, and each team played six group stage matches, in a double round-robin format. The two group winners played each other in the competition's final.[3][8] The competition began on 29 August, and ended with the final on 27 September.[9][10] Originally the final was scheduled for 26 September at the ground of the team with the most points, but the fixture was moved back to 27 September to avoid a clash with an England women's T20 match against the West Indies. Edgbaston was chosen as the venue for the final.[11]
Teams
The teams were as follows:[8][4]
- North Group
- Central Sparks (representing Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire)
- Lightning (representing Loughborough University, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire)
- Northern Diamonds (representing Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland)
- Thunder (representing Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria)
- South Group
- South East Stars (representing Surrey and Kent)
- Southern Vipers (representing Hampshire, Sussex, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Dorset, Isle of Wight and Oxfordshire)
- Sunrisers (representing Middlesex, Essex, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Norfolk and Suffolk)
- Western Storm (representing Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Cornwall, Devon, Wiltshire and Cricket Wales)
Squads
Each team had a squad of 15 players, and players on England central contracts were available for the competition.[3] All players were paid for participating in the competitions, excluding those already on central contracts.[4] After the squad announcements, England centrally contracted players were added to their teams. England players on a regional retainer contract were assigned to their regional team, and centrally contracted players were assigned appropriately.[6] England players in the squad for the West Indies series were only available for the first two rounds of fixtures.[12]
Southern Vipers were the first team to announce their squad. Their regionally contracted players were Lauren Bell, Georgia Adams, Tara Norris, and Paige Scholfield.[13] Northern Diamonds' squad included former England international cricketer Jenny Gunn and Dutch international cricketer Sterre Kalis. Their centrally contracted players were Hollie Armitage and Beth Langston.[14] South East Stars were captained by Tash Farrant, and their 14 women squad included England players Sophia Dunkley, Alice Davidson-Richards, and Bryony Smith.[15] Lightning's squad included Scottish sisters Kathryn and Sarah Bryce.[16] Thunder's squad included England cricketer Alex Hartley, as well as Georgie Boyce and Ellie Threlkeld who received regional retainers.[17] Western Storm were captained by Sophie Luff, and their squad included regionally contracted players Fi Morris and Danielle Gibson.[18] Central Sparks' squad included regionally contracted players Evelyn Jones, Marie Kelly and Issy Wong.[19] Sunrisers were captained by Amara Carr, and their squad included regionally contracted players Naomi Dattani, Cordelia Griffith who received regional retainers, and also included England international cricketer Fran Wilson and Mady Villiers.[20]
Standings
Teams received 4 points for a win. A bonus point was given where the winning team's run rate is 1.25 or greater times that of the opposition.
North Group
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | NR | BP | Pts | NRR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Northern Diamonds | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 23 | 1.000 |
2 | Central Sparks | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | −0.285 |
3 | Thunder | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | −0.515 |
4 | Lightning | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | −0.113 |
South Group
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | NR | BP | Pts | NRR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Southern Vipers | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 27 | 1.017 |
2 | Western Storm | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 0.510 |
3 | South East Stars | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | −0.197 |
4 | Sunrisers | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1.365 |
Group stage
The fixture list was compiled so that every team played twice on the August Bank Holiday weekend.[5]
Source:[24]
North Group
Central Sparks 144 (38.1 overs) |
v |
Northern Diamonds 145/1 (24.1 overs) |
Gwenan Davies 33 (44) Katherine Brunt 5/20 (9 overs) |
Lauren Winfield 72 (71) Clare Boycott 1/5 (1 over) |
- Central Sparks won the toss and elected to bat.
- Points: Northern Diamonds 5, Central Sparks 0
Thunder 206/9 (50 overs) |
v |
Lightning 146 (35.5 overs) |
- Thunder won the toss and elected to bat.
- Lightning were set a revised target of 151 runs from 36 overs due to rain.
- Points: Thunder 4, Lightning 0
Thunder 135 (46.1 overs) |
v |
Central Sparks 136/6 (44 overs) |
- Thunder won the toss and elected to bat.
- Points: Central Sparks 4, Thunder 0
Northern Diamonds 226/9 (50 overs) |
v |
Lightning 217/7 (50 overs) |
- Northern Diamonds won the toss and elected to bat.
- Points: Northern Diamonds 4, Lightning 0
Thunder 166/8 (50 overs) |
v |
Central Sparks 167/2 (38.1 overs) |
Natalie Brown 27 (47) Clare Boycott 4/40 (10 overs) |
Evelyn Jones 90 (113) Olivia Thomas 1/29 (4 overs) |
- Thunder won the toss and elected to bat.
- Points: Central Sparks 5, Thunder 0
Lightning 226 (49.1 overs) |
v |
Northern Diamonds 229/8 (48.5 overs) |
Sarah Bryce 51 (69) Alex MacDonald 2/31 (10 overs) |
- Northern Diamonds won the toss and elected to field.
- Points: Northern Diamonds 4, Lightning 0
Northern Diamonds 248/8 (50 overs) |
v |
Thunder 175/8 (50 overs) |
Alex MacDonald 92 (110) Laura Jackson 2/23 (9 overs) |
- Thunder won the toss and elected to field.
- Points: Northern Diamonds 5, Thunder 0
Lightning 233/8 (50 overs) |
v |
Central Sparks 227/9 (50 overs) |
Sarah Bryce 75 (98) Anisha Patel 3/49 (10 overs) |
Marie Kelly 53 (82) Alicia Presland 3/26 (10 overs) |
- Central Sparks won the toss and elected to field.
- Points: Lightning 4, Central Sparks 0
Thunder 188/9 (50 overs) |
v |
Lightning 116 (39.1 overs) |
Natalie Brown 52 (82) Kathryn Bryce 4/38 (10 overs) |
Abigail Freeborn 28 (67) Alex Hartley 4/8 (10 overs) |
- Thunder won the toss and elected to bat.
- Points: Thunder 5, Lightning 0
Northern Diamonds 217 (50 overs) |
v |
Central Sparks 218/4 (46.4 overs) |
Sterre Kalis 87 (115) Elizabeth Russell 4/28 (9 overs) |
Evelyn Jones 77 (114) Beth Langston 2/27 (8 overs) |
- Northern Diamonds won the toss and elected to bat.
- Points: Central Sparks 4, Northern Diamonds 0
Thunder 143 (42.5 overs) |
v |
Northern Diamonds 144/4 (29.4 overs) |
Natalie Brown 32 (41) Beth Langston 3/18 (8.5 overs) |
- Thunder won the toss and elected to bat.
- Points: Northern Diamonds 5, Thunder 0
Lightning 303/5 (50 overs) |
v |
Central Sparks 248 (49.4 overs) |
- Central Sparks won the toss and elected to field.
- Points: Lightning 4, Central Sparks 0
South Group
Sunrisers 202 (46.1 overs) |
v |
Southern Vipers 208/3 (36.2 overs) |
Mady Villiers 64 (83) Paige Scholfield 3/33 (9.1 overs) |
Danni Wyatt 66 (73) Alice Macleod 1/14 (3 overs) |
- Southern Vipers won the toss and elected to field.
- Points: Southern Vipers 5, Sunrisers 0
South East Stars 166 (48.1 overs) |
v |
Western Storm 167/4 (39.5 overs) |
Susie Rowe 38 (44) Georgia Hennessy 4/31 (8.1 overs) |
- Western Storm won the toss and elected to field.
- Points: Western Storm 5, South East Stars 0
Southern Vipers 261/7 (50 overs) |
v |
Western Storm 239 (47.5 overs) |
Heather Knight 67 (80) Tara Norris 4/45 (8 overs) |
- Western Storm won the toss and elected to field.
- Points: Southern Vipers 4, Western Storm 0
South East Stars 289/8 (50 overs) |
v |
Sunrisers 212 (45.5 overs) |
Sophia Dunkley 97 (116) Sonali Patel 4/52 (10 overs) |
Amara Carr 99 (113) Bryony Smith 3/25 (5.5 overs) |
- South East Stars won the toss and elected to bat.
- Points: South East Stars 5, Sunrisers 0
Western Storm 265/6 (50 overs) |
v |
Sunrisers 179 (45 overs) |
Sophie Luff 85 (115) Alice Macleod 1/34 (10 overs) |
Joanne Gardner 54 (76) Fi Morris 5/26 (10 overs) |
- Sunrisers won the toss and elected to field.
- Points: Western Storm 5, Sunrisers 0
Southern Vipers 209/8 (50 overs) |
v |
South East Stars 98 (36.5 overs) |
Ella McCaughan 50 (81) Tash Farrant 2/28 (10 overs) |
Aylish Cranstone 28 (50) Tara Norris 3/27 (8.5 overs) |
- Southern Vipers won the toss and elected to bat.
- Points: Southern Vipers 5, South East Stars 0
South East Stars 212/9 (50 overs) |
v |
Western Storm 215/3 (46.1 overs) |
Kirstie White 50 (77) Georgia Hennessy 3/40 (10 overs) |
- South East Stars won the toss and elected to bat.
- Points: Western Storm 4, South East Stars 0
Southern Vipers 232 (49.5 overs) |
v |
Sunrisers 183 (43.5 overs) |
Georgia Adams 89 (108) Katie Midwood 2/33 (10 overs) |
Alice Macleod 35 (45) Tara Norris 3/37 (7 overs) |
- South East Stars won the toss and elected to bat.
- Points: Southern Vipers 5, Sunrisers 0
Southern Vipers 288/1 (50 overs) |
v |
Western Storm 256 (50 overs) |
- Southern Vipers won the toss and elected to bat.
- Points: Southern Vipers 4, Western Storm 0
Sunrisers 198 (48.4 overs) |
v |
South East Stars 199/4 (37.1 overs) |
Alice Capsey 73* (75) Joanne Gardner 2/13 (4 overs) |
- Sunrisers won the toss and elected to bat.
- Points: South East Stars 5, Sunrisers 0
South East Stars 227 (48.3 overs) |
v |
Southern Vipers 230/6 (47.2 overs) |
Chloe Brewer 79 (107) Lauren Bell 4/36 (10 overs) |
Emily Windsor 47* (43) Danielle Gregory 3/44 (10 overs) |
- South East Stars won the toss and elected to bat.
- Points: Southern Vipers 4, South East Stars 0
Western Storm 288/6 (50 overs) |
v |
Sunrisers 241 (49 overs) |
Georgia Hennessy 105 (110) Katie Wolfe 2/34 (10 overs) |
Grace Scrivens 72 (73) Georgia Hennessy 2/29 (6 overs) |
- Sunrisers won the toss and elected to field.
- Points: Western Storm 4, Sunrisers 0
Final
Southern Vipers 231 (49.5 overs) |
v |
Northern Diamonds 193 (42.2 overs) |
- Northern Diamonds won the toss and elected to field.
- Southern Vipers won the 2020 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.
Statistics
- Highest Score by a team: Lightning 303/5 (50 overs) vs Central Sparks[25]
- Lowest Score by a team: South East Stars 98 (36.5 overs) vs Southern Vipers[26]
- Most runs: Georgia Adams (Southern Vipers) – 500 runs in 7 innings (7 matches)[27]
- Most Wickets: Charlotte Taylor (Southern Vipers) – 15 wickets in 5 innings (5 matches)[28]
- Top Score by an individual: Georgia Adams (Southern Vipers) – 154* (155) vs Western Storm[29]
- Best Bowling figures by an individual: Charlotte Taylor (Southern Vipers) 6/34 (10 overs) vs Northern Diamonds[30]
References
- "ECB names new women's domestic competition after Rachael Heyhoe Flint". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- "Women's cricket: Domestic 50-over competition named Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy". BBC Sport. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy: The special-edition 50-over competition explained". The Cricketer. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- "Women's domestic cricket to return in August with Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy". The Daily Telegraph. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy will begin on August 29, ECB announce". The Cricketer. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- "England players allocated for Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy". Women's CricZone. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
- "ECB announces women's 50-over tournament will be called Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy this summer". Sky Sports. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy: Finals Day on 26 September, venue to be decided". BBC Sport. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy final to be shown live on Sky Sports". ecb.co.uk. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
- "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy: Edgbaston to stage final". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy: Edgbaston to stage final". ESPNcricinfo. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy final to be shown live on Sky Sports". Sky Sports. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- "Southern Vipers Announce Their Squad for the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy". Women's CricZone. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- "Northern Diamonds Announce Their Squad for the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy". Women's CricZone. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- "South East Stars announce squad for Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy; Tash Farrant to lead". Women's CricZone. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- "Lightning announce squad for Rachael Heyhoe-Flint trophy". Women's CricZone. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- "Alex Hartley included in Thunder squad for Rachael Heyhoe-Flint trophy". Women's CricZone. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- "Sophie Luff to lead Western Storm in the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint trophy". Women's CricZone. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
- "Central Sparks name squad for the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint trophy". Women's CricZone. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
- "Sunrisers name squad for the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy; Amara Carr to lead". Women's CricZone. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, BBC Sport.
- Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy 2020, CricInfo.
- Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Tables, England and Wales Cricket Board.
- "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy fixtures 2020: Full schedule, dates". The Cricketer. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- "RECORDS / RACHAEL HEYHOE FLINT TROPHY, 2020 / HIGHEST TOTALS". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- "RECORDS / RACHAEL HEYHOE FLINT TROPHY, 2020 / LOWEST TOTALS". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- "RECORDS / RACHAEL HEYHOE FLINT TROPHY, 2020 / Most Runs". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- "RECORDS / RACHAEL HEYHOE FLINT TROPHY, 2020 / Most Wickets". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- "RECORDS / RACHAEL HEYHOE FLINT TROPHY, 2020 / High Scores". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- "RECORDS / RACHAEL HEYHOE FLINT TROPHY, 2020 / Best Bowling Figures in an Innings". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 22 September 2020.