Lightning book their place at KSL finals day

MIGNON Du Preez scored an unbeaten 48 for Loughborough Lightning to send her side to a second successive Kia Super League Finals Day – while knocking holders Surrey Stars out the competition.

South African Du Preez is Lightning’s highest scorer in the KSL 2019 with 246 runs, having previously notched unbeaten 70 and 38s, before clattering 48 in 25 balls at the Haslegrave Ground, Loughborough.

She finished the job with a four down the ground with nine balls to spare, after Chamari Atapattu had brilliantly notched 45 from 35 balls.

Stars had set what had seen a competitive 147, thanks to Nat Sciver’s first half century of KSL 2019 and Sarah Taylor’s second fifty in a row.

But the hosts chased to set up a date with either Southern Vipers or Yorkshire Diamonds at Hove – with unbeaten Western Storm waiting in the final.

Loughborough’s response had started in catastrophic style as Amy Jones was run out by Dane van Niekerk, before Marizanne Kapp bowled a maiden.

Having been involved in the Jones run out, Matthews seemed to feel some responsibility to score quickly, as she helped thunder 24 runs off the third and fourth overs. But the West Indian was stumped off Mady Villiers in the fifth.

Georgia Elwiss and Atapattu settled things down and added 49 in exactly six overs for the third wicket before the former was stumped.

Sri Lankan Atapattu used her power to take Lightning up to, along and then above the required rate – with six boundaries and a straight six, before she was bowled by Laura Marsh.

Du Preez, who had put on 41 with Atapattu, clubbed a quartet of balls over the ropes, and despite seeing Georgia Adams run out, saw her side to a comfortable fivewicket win.