Western Storm break four-game losing run as Lightning fall short
EARLY SETBACKS WITH THE BAT COST VISITORS IN RACHAEL HEYHOE FLINT TROPHY CLASH
SOPHIE Luff led by example as Western Storm comfortably defeated Loughborough Lightning by 62 runs at Bristol to register their first win in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy since May, writes Andy Stockhausen, of ECB reporters network.
Storm’s captain top-scored with 70 from 111 balls, including six fours, and shared in stands of 70 and 66 with Alex Griffiths and Danielle Gibson for the fourth and fifth wickets respectively as Storm posted 228-7 after being put into bat.
This performance represented a welcome return to form with the bat for a side that had struggled to score big runs for much of the summer in the absence of England captain Heather Knight.
Sarah Bryce, Lucy Higham and Ella Claridge each played themselves in to pass 20 as Lightning chased, but none was able to go on and post the kind of really substantial score needed to challenge Storm’s total. A triumvirate of spinners ensured the hosts were able to exert a degree of control throughout, with Fi Morris claiming 2-34 and Nicole Harvey 2-25, while seamer Georgia Hennessy weighed in with 2-22 as Lightning were shot out for 166 in 41.2 overs.
Prone to batting collapses throughout the series and dismissed for an inadequate 185 in a losing cause against Northern Diamonds last time out, Storm averted a fifth straight defeat in the 50-over competition. It was touch and go for the hosts when they were pegged back to 1816, but Natasha Wraith, Nicole Harvey and Chloe Skelton ensured the tail wagged, mustering seven boundaries between them during a frenetic finale.
Chasing a respectable total, Lightning were reduced to 57-4 inside 15 overs. Danielle Gibson set the tone with a sharp throw from point to run out Bethany Harmer, while Kathryn
Bryce was caught at the wicket via an inside edge off a delivery from Lauren Filer that cut back sharply.
Sarah Bryce played down the wrong line and was bowled by off spinner Claire Nicholas and Abi Freeborn departed in almost identical fashion, undone by Harvey’s cunning flight.
Teresa Graves went on the attack, scoring the only six of the match, but then chanced her arm once too often and succumbed to Gibson for 17 as Lightning subsided to 85-5 in the 22nd over.
Now heavily dependent upon the obdurate Lucy Higham, who had grafted assiduously for 23 from 50 balls, the visitors found themselves between a rock and a hard place when their last realistic hope of victory was pinned inside her crease by a Morris off break with a further 129 still required from 21 overs.
Hennessy then accounted for Kirstie Gordon, caught at mid-on, Morris had Sophie Munroe caught at extra cover, Yvonne Graves edged a catch behind off Hennessy and Harvey removed Grace Ballinger to wrap the innings up, leaving Ella Claridge unbeaten on 39.
Chasing a respectable total inspired by Storm captain Sophie Luff, pictured, Lightning were 57-4 inside 15 overs