SOUTHERN Vipers will begin their defence of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint trophy against South East Stars when the 2024 season gets underway.

They will travel to Beckenham to face their opening opponents on Saturday, April 20 before they host Central Sparks four days later in the 50-over competition.

Vipers, who won both the Rachael Heyhoe Flint trophy and Charlotte Edwards Cup last season, will be looking to make it back-to-back double-winning campaigns next year.

Their Charlotte Edwards Cup campaign will begin on Saturday, May 18 against The Blaze which takes place at the Ageas Bowl.

Ella McCaughan, who won the Vipers young player of the year prize in 2023, insisted that her side are eager to do the double for the second consecutive season.

She told the Daily Echo: “We’re very motivated. We definitely want to do the double again. That is always our goal. We just want to go into the season strong.

“As a team, we always look to win. It is the culture that we have got here so it’s definitely something that we would like to achieve again.

Daily Echo:

“All the double headers are really exciting. It will give us more exposure and it will be fun to play at the big grounds.

“We are all just planning to work hard and be ready for the season.”

SOUTHERN VIPERS FIXTURES IN FULL

APRIL

Sat 20 – South East Stars (Beckenham - RHFT)

Wed 24 – Central Sparks (TBC - RHFT)

Sat 27 – Northern Diamonds (Ageas Bowl - RHFT)

MAY

Wed 1 – Thunder (TBC - RHFT)

Sat 4 – Western Storm (Seat Unique Stadium – RHFT)

Wed 8 – Sunrisers (Radlett – RHFT)

Sat 18 – The Blaze (Ageas Bowl – CEC)

Fri 24 – Sunrisers (Cloud County Ground – CEC)

Mon 27 – Sunrisers (Arundel – CEC)

Thu 30 – Western Storm (Ageas Bowl – CEC)

JUNE

Sun 2 – South East Stars (Kia Oval – CEC)

Fri 7 – Thunder (Emirates Old Trafford – CEC)

Sun 9 – Western Storm (Seat Unique Stadium – CEC)

Fri 14 – Northern Diamonds (Ageas Bowl – CEC)

Sun 16 – Central Sparks (New Road – CEC)

Wed 19 – South East Stars (1st Central County Ground – CEC)

Sun 30 – Western Storm (1st Central County Ground – RHFT)

JULY

Fri 5 – The Blaze (Chesterfield – RHFT)

Wed 10 – South East Stars (TBC – RHFT)

Sun 14 – Thunder (Sedbergh – RHFT)

AUGUST

Mon 26 – The Blaze (TBC – RHFT)

Fri 30 – Central Sparks (New Road – RHFT)

SEPTEMBER

Wed 4 – Northern Diamonds (TBC – RHFT)

Sat 7 – Sunrisers (Ageas Bowl – RHFT)