Trophy win would be 'great story' for Sunrisers

Southern Vipers won the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for the third time in 2023

Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy final

Sunrisers v South East Stars

Venue: Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester

Time: 10:30 BST

Match scorecard

After Saturday, the 50-over Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy will cease to exist, five years on from its inception. With that, comes a chance to be eternal champions of the tournament.

"That sounds pretty cool," said Sunrisers captain Grace Scrivens. "Hopefully we can make that happen."

The final sees regional sides Sunrisers and South East Stars meet at Uptonsteel County Ground, otherwise known as Grace Road, in Leicester.

For both, it is their first time in the defining game.

Sunrisers finished fourth in the group but beat table-topping Northern Diamonds in the semi-finals. Half-centuries from Scrivens, Cordelia Griffith and Jodi Grewcock helped them chase 233, brushing past the 2022 champions by seven wickets.

"Cordelia has come back in and been great for us the last few games," 20-year-old Scrivens told BBC Sport.

"So that's been really pleasing. The main goal for me is to help the team out. I'm just happy to contribute."

Grace Scrivens has scored two half-centuries in this season's competition

And contribute Scrivens has. She has been central to Sunrisers' success this season, hitting 514 runs at an average of 46.72.

They have won more games in the competition this season than in the previous four campaigns combined.

"It's quite mad, when you think about it, but the girls have come together brilliantly this year," Scrivens said.

"From the place we've been in, to how we could finish - that'd be a really great story."

However, they will face a Stars side with momentum.

They looked to be heading out in the semis at 131-7, chasing 221 against three-time champions Southern Vipers.

But an unbeaten eighth-wicket partnership of 90 from 86 balls between Alice Davidson-Richards and Kalea Moore saw them home with seven balls to spare.

Davidson-Richards is hitting form at the right time. She finished 90 not out in that game, adding to a run-a-ball 79 in the match before.

She is now the leading run-scorer in the competition with 557.

The Stars could also have their top wicket-taker back in Ryana MacDonald-Gay, who has been touring Ireland with England. She has 21 wickets in just nine games.

From next season, the women's domestic game is changing.

Eight counties will host professional women's teams, replacing the eight regional clubs that currently play in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and the 20-over Charlotte Edwards Cup.

The two domestic competitions will also end, with the counties instead playing in the T20 Blast and One-Day Cup in a move to align the revamped set-up with the men's game.

The plans will see a three-tiered domestic competition created, with Durham, Essex, Hampshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, Surrey and Warwickshire the eight counties awarded Tier One status for 2025.

Glamorgan and Yorkshire will join them in 2027 as part of an expansion, with two further teams added in 2029.

"The fact we're going in line with the men's game is great," added Scrivens.

"That's only going to bring better facilities for us, and, hopefully, more support.

"I think the quality of coaching will improve as well - I think it's a great thing.

"Obviously, with change comes a bit of nerves too, for everyone, but I think it'll keep building for the women's game, as this tournament has too."

Alice Davidson-Richards has played one Test, six one-day internationals and eight T20 internationals for England

The England and Wales Cricket Board says there will be £8m of funding available every year for the women's domestic game by 2027, taking annual investment to around £19m.

“As we have seen through The Hundred and alignment of our England men's and England women's teams, we believe that by putting our men's and women's competitions and players on the same platform we can exponentially increase the reach of the women’s domestic game," said Beth Barrett-Wild, director of the women's professional game.

She added that the move would also "intensify the depth of feeling fans have for our women's teams moving forwards".

As for Saturday's final, a first - and last - title is on the cards for both sides.

It presents a chance for regional team-mates to finish on a high, before potentially becoming opponents in the new system.

"You've always got to be confident going into games like this," Scrivens said.

"That’s the key. I think we're playing some really good cricket at the moment. Let's see what happens come Saturday."