Grace Scrivens asserts she is unfazed by Sunrisers’ underdog status as they head into Saturday’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy final against South East Stars at Leicester. Reaching the final marks a remarkable turnaround for the Sunrisers, who failed to secure a victory in the first three editions of the competition but achieved an unexpected seven-wicket win in their semi-final last weekend against the top-ranked Northern Diamonds. South East Stars are also making their debut in the final, but they are previous champions of the 20-over title, the Charlotte Edwards Cup.
“We can draw immense confidence from our semi-final performance,” Scrivens, the team’s captain, stated. “It was probably the least stressful cricket match I’ve ever watched as a Sunriser. We’ve been playing exceptionally well, scoring over 230 in three of our last four 50-over games, which has been fantastic, and we reached this stage more convincingly than Stars did last weekend.” Stars secured a thrilling semi-final victory against Southern Vipers, the defending champions, winning by three wickets with seven balls remaining thanks to a 90-run partnership for the eighth wicket. However, they will be bolstered by the return of their dynamic captain Bryony Smith, who last played a half-century for England against Ireland in Dublin.
Scrivens herself was unexpectedly omitted from the England squad touring Ireland, but she noted that while she was disappointed, it ultimately “worked out for the best.” “I’m thrilled to be playing in a final on Saturday for a team I’m so passionate about leading,” she said. Notably, it was a half-century from their 20-year-old captain that propelled Sunrisers into their first final: Scrivens is widely credited with single-handedly turning their fortunes around. As in 2023, she has been their top run-scorer; since she took over as captain last September, their win percentage has surged from 7% to 61%. Her leadership skills are so impressive that she is already being considered a future senior England captain, despite not yet making her full international debut.
“I adore captaincy,” Scrivens remarked. “It’s about maximizing the potential of each player and fostering strong relationships. That’s what I strive to do. I relish the challenge. I’m competitive. I aim to lead teams to victory.” Saturday also signifies the conclusion of five seasons of women’s regional cricket: a restructuring led by the England and Wales Cricket Board means that starting in 2025, women’s teams will once again be affiliated with counties. Sunrisers will transition into Essex, while Stars will become Surrey. Scrivens is expected to sign on as Essex’s inaugural professional female captain. In a significant move for women’s cricket, Essex has also confirmed to the Guardian that they will host all their 50-over women’s matches at Chelmsford in 2025.
“There’s a mix of sadness when things come to an end, but also excitement for what’s to come,” Scrivens noted. “This competition has been fantastic for women’s cricket – it’s filled a long-standing void. But aligning with the men’s structure is a positive step forward.”
