RHF Trophy to begin on May 29; New domestic T20 competition announced

England and Wales Cricket Board has announced the schedule for the 2021 domestic season. Along with the Rachael Heyhoe Flint(RHF) Trophy, a new Women’s Regional T20 competition has been introduced for the upcoming season.



The two competitions featuring a sum total of 56 fixtures will take place between May and September 2021. The RHF trophy is all set to begin on May 29, 2021, with eight teams playing round-robin once followed by the final on September 25.



Meanwhile, in the Women’s Regional T20 that begins on June 26, the eight teams have been divided into two groups where they will play three home and away matches before qualifying for the final which is scheduled for September 5, 2021.



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Clare Connor, the ECB Managing Director of Women’s Cricket, said that the schedule promises to be a memorable summer of cricket for the women. “We are not only set to further professionalise the game with more players on full-time contracts than ever before but, crucially, we will showcase our game to more young girls across England and Wales so that they can say cricket is a game for them."



Connor said that she is proud to continue to move forward with Rachael Heyhoe Flint’s name, with everything Flint has represented for women’s cricket. “The launch of women’s regional cricket last summer, despite the challenges caused by the pandemic, was another significant step forward for our domestic game. We are now looking forward to seeing those regional teams play twice as much cricket this summer with the addition of the T20 competition,” Connor concluded.



Northern Diamonds will take on Central Sparks in the opener of the RHF Trophy on May 29. Western Storm will come up against Thunder, Sunrisers against South East Stars, and the defending champions Southern Vipers would start their campaign against Lightning on the same day.



With two international series planned through the summer of 2021, the availability of the international stars for the domestic competition would depend on the schedule and selection of players.

Full fixtures:

RHF Trophy 2021:

29 May:



Northern Diamonds v Central Sparks, Emerald Headingly

Western Storm v Thunder, Bristol County Ground

Sunrisers v South East Stars, Cloudfm County Ground

Southern Vipers v Lightning, Ageas Bowl



31 May:



Lightning v Northern Diamonds, Venue TBC

Central Sparks v Western Storm, Edgbaston

South East Stars v Southern Vipers, venue TBC

Thunder v Sunrisers, venue TBC



5 June:



South East Stars v Western Storm, Kia Oval

Sunrisers v Northern Diamonds, venue TBC

Thunder v Lightning, venue TBC

Southern Vipers v Central Sparks, venue TBC



12 June:



Northern Diamonds v South East Stars, Emerald Headingley

Lightning v Sunrisers, venue TBC

Central Sparks v Thunder, New Road

Western Storm v Southern Vipers, venue TBC



10 September:



Northern Diamonds v Western Storm, Emirates Riverside

South East Stars v Lightning, venue TBC

Sunrisers v Central Sparks, venue TBC

Thunder v Southern Vipers, venue TBC



12 September:



Northern Diamonds v Thunder, Emirates Riverside

Central Sparks v South East Stars, New Road

Western Storm v Lightning, Bristol County Ground

Sunrisers v Southern Vipers, venue TBC



18 September:



Lightning v Central Sparks, venue TBC

South East Stars v Thunder, venue TBC

Western Storm v Sunrisers, Bristol County Ground

Southern Vipers v Northern Diamonds, venue TBC



22 September:



2nd v 3rd Playoff, venue TBC



25 September:



RHF Trophy Final, venue TBC

Women's Regional T20:

26 June:



Lightning v South East Stars, Trent Bridge

Central Sparks v Southern Vipers, Edgbaston

Northern Diamonds v Thunder, Emerald Headingley

Western Storm v Sunrisers, Cooper Associates County Ground



2 July:



Sunrisers v Northern Diamonds, Cloudfm County Ground



3 July:



South East Stars v Central Sparks, venue TBC

Southern Vipers v Lightning, venue TBC

Thunder v Western Storm, venue TBC



9 July:



Thunder v Sunrisers, Emirates Old Trafford



10 July:



Lightning v Central Sparks, venue TBC

South East Stars v Southern Vipers, venue TBC

Western Storm v Northern Diamonds, Cooper Associates County Ground



25 August:



South East Stars v Lightning, venue TBC

Southern Vipers v Central Sparks, venue TBC

Northern Diamonds v Sunrisers, venue TBC

Western Storm v Thunder, Sophia Gardens



28 August:



Central Sparks v Lightning, New Road

Southern Vipers v South East Stars, venue TBC

Northern Diamonds v Western Storm, Emirates Riverside

Sunrisers v Thunder, County Ground Northampton



30 August:



Lightning v Southern Vipers, Incora County Ground

Central Sparks v South East Stars, New Road

Sunrisers v Western Storm, venue TBC

Thunder v Northern Diamonds, venue TBC



5 September:



Women's Regional T20 Finals Day, venue TBC