Middlesex name an unchanged squad for Sunday's
match against sixth-placed Somerset, while Emily Thorpe and Rebecca Tyson are
included for Monday’s fixture against top of the table Devon.
Sophia Dunkley is again likely to be a key player for Middlesex as their, and the entire County Championship's, leading run-scorer with 323 runs at the remarkable average of 107.67 which includes two centuries. Dunkley will also be crucial with the ball and has claimed nine wickets at just 7.33 with her economical legspin and is the joint third leading wicket-taker in the country. Though it was a disappointing performance with the bat last week against Wales from the rest of the side, Natasha Miles and Beth Morgan both played well the match before against Durham scoring 44 and 44 not out respectively, and will be looking to return to that form.
Two other bowlers who came into their own against Wales were off-spinner Emma Albery and seamer Sonali Patel. The pair bowled extremely economically and, along with Dunkley, helped to take the game to the final ball, a scenario which looked a long way off when Wales were 75-2 in the 15th over. Patel finished with best First Eleven figures of 3-18. Thorpe and Tyson will add a second legspin and another seam option respectively for coach Sanjay Patel and skipper Naomi Dattani to choose from on Monday.
Somerset's skipper Sophie Luff and allrounder Nicole Richards are both important batters for the visitors. Richards is the Championship's 10th leading run-scorer with 150 at 50.00, and has been potent with ball in hand claiming seven wickets at 19.43. Although Luff has not enjoyed the success of previous seasons she is the county's second leading run-scorer with 133 and has the ability to take the game away from the opposition.
Devon will be looking to opening bat Georgia Hennessy to continue her run of form as the team's top-scorer with 124 runs and a high score of 78 not out in an abandoned match against Berkshire last weekend. Offspinner Becca Silk will likely be crucial with the ball and has snared an impressive 12 wickets at just 4.08 this season. Middlesex will also look to keep their T20 wicketkeeper, Amara Carr, quiet with the bat and need to respect her skills behind the stumps.
Both matches are free entry and play starts at 11am, head down to Mill Hill School on Sunday and Eastcote CC to enjoy some competitive Bank Holiday Cricket.
Contributed by Georgia Isaac, Middlesex Women’s Media Assistant
Middlesex Squad
Naomi Dattani (C)
Emma Albery
Sophia Dunkley
Bhavika Gajipra
Gayatri Gole
Cordelia Griffith
Iqraa Hussain (WK)
Natasha Miles
Beth Morgan
Sonali Patel
Olivia Rae
Emily Thorpe (Devon only)
Rebecca Tyson (Devon only)
Katie Wolfe
Middlesex Women 1st XI
Somerset Cricket Board Womens 1st XI
