As the recent hot weather builds the obvious spurt of thunder and lightening is certainly on the cards for the area but on this occasion we are not talking electric strikes and scary clapping skies but instead cricket…Of course. Because Thunder and Lightening will play at Trent Bridge on Saturday 29^th August in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy… Confused?

Let me explain…

Womens Cricket this year has a new 50 over competition that will replace the Kia Super League with eight teams in two groups of four who’ll fight it out for the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy named after Baroness Flint, a cricketer for England who played in the 1973 World Cup and one who captained the country between 1966-1978 regarded as a trailblazer for womens cricket and a player who was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2010 before sadly passing away in 2017.

With two groups split into North and South including such teams as Central Sparks, Northern Diamonds, Thunder, Lightening, South East Stars, Southern Vipers, Sunrisers and Western Strom it all sounds very glamourous with a finals day on 26^th September at a venue to be announced.

The East Midlands team representing Nottinghamshire as well as Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire is called Lightening. Based out of Loughborough University they’ll open up their six game season against the Thunder at Trent Bridge on the last Saturday of this month before matches at Grace Road and New Road amongst others.

Mick Newell, Nottinghamshire’s Director of Cricket ahead of Lightening appearing at Trent Bridge stated “The new elite structure is a huge step forwards for women’s cricket in this country, and the year-round support and pathways it will offer should provide ideal conditions in which players can develop.”

“We’re delighted to provide an opportunity for two sides to play at Trent Bridge this summer – which is something I know those who played in the Women’s Super League fixture here last year relished and revelled in.”

The game at Trent Bridge will likely be played behind closed doors. No news yet of whether or not they’ll be the option to watch the match on TV or stream on device but we hope to bring you details on that soon.

*Main image @TrentBridge the home of cricket in Nottinghamshire will play host to Thunder & Lightening.