The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced the fixtures of this season’s Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy on Wednesday (August 13). The tournament will start from August 29 and the final will take place on September 26.
The tournament will feature eight regional teams in a 29-day competition where each of the team will play twice over the weekend, with the sides divided into two divisions of four teams based on their geographic location. However, the venue for the match has not yet decided.
Meanwhile, none of the games will be broadcast live on TV, but the ECB has confirmed that they are likely to make some games available via online streaming. The tournament will replace the 20-over Kia Super League, which has been played for four years.
Notably, the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy has been designed to fill the gap which has been created because of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and its effect on the sporting event.
ECB chief executive Tom Harrison said: “I’m proud that we will stage the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy in honour of a true great of our game both on and off the field.”
He added, “Rachael’s determination to give women’s cricket the platform it deserves is a legacy that must endure through these difficult times as we continue the journey to professionalise the women’s game. This summer’s tournament will be another important step on that path.”
“The fact we’ve been able to get so much domestic cricket played this summer owes to the collaborative efforts of the county network and their willingness to find a way to get the game on in the safest way possible for all involved. There will be many more challenges ahead, but the unity and spirit shown during this summer has been a tribute to the county network as we work together to grow our sport,” he shared.
Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy groups:
North: Central Sparks, Lightning, Northern Diamonds, Thunder
South: South East Stars, Southern Vipers, Sunrisers, Western Storm
Fixture: (All times in BST)
Saturday, August 29
North Group: Central Sparks vs Northern Diamonds (Edgbaston, 10.30 am); Lightning vs Thunder (Trent Bridge, 10.30 am)
South Group: Sunrisers vs Southern Vipers (Chelmsford, 10.30 am); South-East Stars vs Western Storm (Beckenham, 10.30 am)
Monday, August 31
North Group: Thunder vs Central Sparks (TBC, 10.30 am); Northern Diamonds vs Lightning (Emirates Riverside, 10.30 am)
South Group: Western Storm vs Southern Vipers (Bristol, 10.30 am); South-East Stars vs Sunrisers (Beckenham, 10.30 am)
Saturday, September 5
North Group: Central Sparks vs Thunder (New Road, 10.30 am); Lightning vs Northern Diamonds (Grace Road, 10.30 am)
South Group: Sunrisers vs Western Storm (Chelmsford, 10.30 am); Southern Vipers vs South East Stars (Hove, 10.30 am)
Thursday, September 10
North Group: Thunder vs Northern Diamonds (TBC, 10.30 am); Central Sparks vs Lightning (New Road, 10.30 am)
South Group: Western Storm vs South East Stars (Bristol, 10.30 am); Southern Vipers vs Sunrisers (Ageas Bowl, 10.30 am)
Sunday, September 13
South Group: Southern Vipers vs Western Storm (Ageas Bowl, 10.30 am); Sunrisers vs South East Stars (Chelmsford, 10.30 am)
North Group: Thunder vs Lightning (TBC, 10.30 am); Northern Diamonds vs Central Sparks (Emerald Headingley, 10.30 am)
Saturday, September 19
South Group: South East Stars vs Southern Vipers (Kia Oval, 10.30 am); Western Storm vs Sunrisers (Bristol, 10.30 am)
North Group: Northern Diamonds vs Thunder (Emerald Headingley, 10.30 am); Lightning vs Central Sparks (Grace Road, 10.30 am)
Saturday, September 26
Final
