Surrey Women will play Middlesex at The Kia Oval on Thursday 14 July for the London Cup. The annual T20 match will be free to attend for all spectators.
Squad news
Surrey have named a strong side including Bryony Smith, Kira Chathli and Alice Capsey who have been in excellent form for the South East Stars in this seasons Charlotte Edwards Cup and Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy. Bowlers Bethan Miles and young fast bowler Charlotte Lambert have also impressed for the Stars in recent games.
Surrey: Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones, Chloe Brewer, Alice Capsey, Kira Chathli, Amy Gordon, Eva Gray, Dani Gregory, Laxmi Johal, Charlotte Lambert, Bethan Miles, Bryony Smith, Rhianna Southby, Charlotte Stubbs, Kirstie White.
Last time out
Jon Batty’s side recently beat their north London rivals in the 50-over London Championship in a composed chase that went down to the last over. Wicketkeeper Kira Chathli starred with the bat, making 64 off 97 balls before Dani Gregory and Bethan Miles saw Surrey over the line.
Earlier, Miles (2-28) and Claudie Cooper (2-24) had stifled Middlesex with a composed display of bowling, restricting them to 188.
The London Cup
The London Cup is an annual T20 game between Surrey and Middlesex that was started in 2015 by Ebony Rainford-Brent, Surrey’s then Director of Women’s Cricket. Middlesex are the current holders of the trophy having chased down 124 to win by 8 wickets last year.
In the last game hosted at The Kia Oval in 2020, Surrey won by 4 wickets; chasing down 108 with just one ball to spare. Surrey had bowled well to restrict Middlesex with six bowlers taking a wicket apiece including Dani Gregory delivering a perfect leg break to dismiss Natasha Miles.
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View from the dressing room
Speaking ahead of the game, Surrey spinner Dani Gregory said:
“It’s always really exciting to play at The Kia Oval and we’re looking forward to getting a run out at the ground. Particularly for some of the younger members of the squad who haven’t had a chance to play at the ground before, it’ll be a great evening. I’ve got great memories of bowling here in the last London Cup at The Kia Oval, I had good rhythm and maybe a bit of aid off the pitch! Quite a few of us have been playing for the South East Stars in the regional competitions, so to put the blue shirt back on is going to be an exciting experience.
“We’ve got some real confidence in the squad from performing for the Stars, Bryony and Capsey have been playing so well and we’ll want to see them take that confidence forward. We had a good game against Middlesex in the London Championship, going down to the last over. I was fortunate to be at the crease for that and having that one up on them will hopefully give us that extra bit of confidence to go out and do the same again and get that trophy back on home turf.
“We always go into the local derbies with that extra bit of determination to make London blue again!”
Dani’s ones to watch:
Surrey: Charlotte Lambert
“She’s a really exciting fast bowling prospect coming through. I was really fortunate to help coach her in the county age group set up and it’s been really exciting to see her grow and develop and she’s recently been brought into the South East Stars Academy. She’s definitely a really exciting prospect.
Middlesex: Cordelia Griffiths
“She bats really nicely up top for Middlesex and the Sunrisers. She’s got some excellent shots in her locker and is definitely someone we’ll be keeping an eye on.”
The match starts at 6pm and it is free entry, find all the details here.
