It’s third time lucky for Loughborough Lightning
IT WAS third time lucky for Loughborough Lightning when they delivered a strong performance against Yorkshire Diamonds at Headingley on Sunday to register their first victory of the KSL campaign.
Yorkshire Diamonds made 121-6 from their 20 overs, while in reply, Lighting made 122-1, with Hayley Matthews 54 not out and Chamari Atapattu 40 not out.
Coach Rob Taylor said: “At Leeds we showed what a dangerous team we are when we get it right. We saw Sunday’s game as an opportunity to kick start this little road trip in a positive way and we really did that.”
Taylor was pleased to see Hayley Matthews and Chamari Atapattu, their two top-order overseas players, make their first big contribution. West Indies opener Matthews made her first KSL half-century for Lightning and shared an unbroken match-winning stand of 76 with Atapattu, who finished 40 not out.
Taylor said: “It’s important obviously that your overseas players made an impact so it was good to see Chamari get a score and the way she did it as well, playing some shots.
“And Hayley played the way people know she can play, looking really powerful and dominant at the top of the innings.”
Among the home-grown players, Derby-born leg-spinner Sarah Glenn delivered a third impressive performance in this year’s competition.
The 19-year-old conceded only 17 runs from her four overs and picked up her fifth wicket in the KSL so far.
“Sarah is developing into a consistent and dangerous bowler,” Taylor said.
“She trains with us at Loughborough through the year and has worked with Gareth Breese with the England training squad as well as our own coaches. We’re really happy with the progress she has made.”
Lightning faced Western Storm yesterday (Tuesday) and then face a trip to Guildford for their first match-up of 2019 against Surrey Stars, who beat them in last year’s KSL Final at Hove. They are back at the Haslegrave Ground in Loughborough on Sunday, when Yorkshire Diamonds are the visitors.