Surrey Stars will face Southern Vipers at the Kennington Oval, London in Match 7 of the 2019 Women’s Cricket Super League on Monday, August 12.

The Stars are currently at the top of the standings with nine points and a net run-rate (NRR) of +1.373, while the Vipers are placed second, having won both their matches so far.

VENUE AND PITCH 

This will be the first and only match to be played at The Oval during this season of the Super League. Historical data shows that there’s a high variation in team totals, with the lowest being 90 and the highest being 171 at this ground in this league.

Teams have scored at 6.84 runs per over, which is eighth lowest among the 19 grounds where Super League matches have been played in the league’s history. In the bowling department, in terms of picking wickets, spinners have been far more successful at this venue compared to the pacers.

Digging into further details show us that leg-spinners, with a bowling average of 17, and left-arm orthodox spinners, with an average of 17.9, have done well. Left-arm pacers have bowled just eight deliveries here, not enough to bring about a proper analysis of their performance.

SURREY STARS

On the batting front, Sarah Taylor (79) and Lizelle Lee (75) have been the mainstays, both having scored more than 70 runs in the two matches played so far. Natalie Sciver (36) is the third highest run-scorer for the team, and on top of that, she has picked three wickets in two innings as well.

When it comes to the bowling, Dane van Niekerk and Laura Marsh have been the key, having taken four wickets each. Both of them are spinners and that is more reason for you to include them in your fantasy team. Mady Villiers has picked two wickets and can be a differentiator. 

SOUTHERN VIPERS 

Stafanie Taylor (122), Danielle Wyatt (94) and Tammy Beaumont (90) have been Vipers’ main run-scorers so far. Suzie Bates (56) has been below par, but she scored 33 in her previous innings and a batter of her calibre can produce a top performance on any given day. 

Natasha Farrant and Lauren Bell have taken six and four wickets respectively so far, but this track might not help pacers with Stafanie Taylor and Wyatt more likely to make an impact with the ball. 

SUGGESTED FANTASY TEAM STRUCTURE

Try to pick more slow bowing options and players like Sciver and Bates who are likely to provide points in multiple departments. Stafanie Taylor, Wyatt, van Niekerk and Sciver are potentially good captain and vice-captain options. 

SQUADS 

Surrey Stars 

Laura Marsh, Sarah Taylor (wk), Marizanne Kapp, Dane van Niekerk, Natalie Sciver (c), Lizelle Lee, Bryony Smith, Aylish Cranstone, Mady Villiers, Gwenan Davies, Amy Gordon, Grace Gibbs, Hannah Jones, Eva Gray, Rhianna Southby.

Southern Vipers 

Danielle Wyatt, Suzie Bates, Tammy Beaumont (c), Stafanie Taylor, Thea Brookes, Maia Bouchier, Paige Scholfield, Amanda Wellington, Natasha Farrant, Carla Rudd (wK), Charlotte Dean, Lauren Bell, Marie Kelly, Fi Morris, Isabelle Wong.