Sky Sports adds more cricket to huge year of women’s sport

Sky Sports is set to broadcast its biggest ever summer of women’s cricket, as part of a huge line-up of women’s sport in 2018.

For the first time, Sky Sports will show 12 matches from the Kia Super League – nearly double the amount from last year - in addition to England women’s triumphant return to action against South Africa and New Zealand.

Viewing figures for women’s sport reached a record high for Sky Sports in 2017, which saw more people tune in to watch women’s cricket, netball, rugby and golf than ever before. Viewing was up 23%, with the women’s cricket World Cup final being Sky’s most watched women’s sporting event ever, with a peak of over 1.1 million viewers.

The line-up of women’s sport includes:

Cricket

• England women’s ODIs and T20 Tri-Series double header against South Africa and New Zealand, starting Saturday 9 June.

• 12 matches from the Kia Super League, culminating in finals day from Hove on 27 August.

• The ICC Women’s World Twenty20 in November.

Rugby

• England women’s Six Nations beginning 4 February, select international games, HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series and Tyrell’s Premier 15s.

Golf

• The Ladies Professional Golf Association, Ladies European Tour and all five Majors including the British Open.

Netball

• International and Vitality Super League, All-Star Fast 5s and Quad Series Internationals.

Bryan Henderson, Head of Sky Sports Cricket, said: “Last year felt like a watershed moment for women’s sport, with my undoubted highlight being the moment England’s women clinched the World Cup at Lord’s. At Sky Sports, we’re proud of the contribution we’ve made to growing women’s sport, and we’re determined to continue that in 2018. We have an incredible line-up, across a range of sports, with cricket a huge part of the schedule again. We can’t wait to get started.”

Clare Connor, ECB Director of England Women’s Cricket, said “We are proud to continue working with Sky as we strive to raise the profile of women’s cricket off the back of an amazing 12 months, culminating in that unforgettable day at Lord’s. With two home international series on Sky this summer along with standalone Kia Super League games being broadcast for the first time, we are seeing the game continue to go from strength to strength.”

For more information

Sky Sports PR

020 7032 1445

Cricket Fixtures

Women’s Cricket Internationals

Saturday 9 June

England v South Africa 1st ODI (Worcester)

Tuesday 12 June

England v South Africa 2nd ODI (Hove)

Friday 15 June

England v South Africa 3rd ODI (Canterbury)

Saturday 7 July

England v New Zealand 1st ODI (Headingley)

Tuesday 10 July

England v New Zealand 2nd ODI (Derby)

Friday 13 July

England v New Zealand 3rd ODI (Leicester)

T20 Tri Series Double-Header

Wednesday 20 June

South Africa v New Zealand and England v South Africa (Taunton)

Saturday 23 June

England v South Africa and England v New Zealand (Taunton)

Thursday 28 June

South Africa v New Zealand and England v New Zealand (Taunton)

Kia Super League – Sky Sports live televised games

Sunday 22 July

Western Storm v Yorkshire Diamonds (Taunton)

Wednesday 25 July

Southern Vipers v Loughborough Lightning (Ageas Bowl)

Friday 27 July

Yorkshire Diamonds v Lancashire Thunder (Headingley)

Sunday 29 July

Western Storm v Loughborough Lightning (Taunton)

Tuesday 31 July

Surrey Stars v Lancashire Thunder (Oval)

Tuesday 7 August

Lancashire Thunder v Surrey Stars (Old Trafford)

Wednesday 8 August

Southern Vipers v Yorkshire Diamonds (Ageas Bowl)

Tuesday 14 August

Southern Vipers v Surrey Stars (Hove)

Wednesday 15 August

Loughborough Lightning v Western Storm (Edgbaston)

Saturday 18 August

TBC

Monday 27 August

Kia Super League Finals Day (Hove)

About Sky

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Sky has over 31,000 employees and is listed as one of The Times Top 50 employers for women. Sky is listed on the London Stock Exchange (SKY).