Hat-trick not enough to silence Thunder
LANCASHIRE Thunder were victorious over Southern Vipers despite England left-arm seamer Tash Farrant claimed only the second Kia Super League hat-trick at Liverpool yeseterday.
Last season’s finalists have now lost their last two games as, like the Thunder in their 137 for six, they stumbled late on pursuing 138.
Farrant’s trio was central to the Thunder’s loss of four wickets in eight balls without addition in the 18th and 19th overs as they slipped from 123 for two.
Vipers captain Suzie Bates topscored with 40, but the visitors slipped from 104 for two in the 16th and failed to chase 14 off the last, with off-spinner Emma Lamb starring with four late wickets in a fourrun win.
The Vipers (133 for nine) had started their chase without Tammy Beaumont after she failed a concussion test following a blow to the head whilst behind the stumps in the first innings - thought to be when Eve Jones scooped Bates in the 15th over.
After Amy Satterthwaite fell to Arran Brindle, Farrant (three for 24) had Jones caught at mid-wicket by Mignon du Preez with the third ball of the 19th over before Sophie Ecclestone holed out to Bates at long-on.
Lamb then skewed to Katie George at point off 22-year-old Farrant.
Yorkshire’s Katherine Brunt took the first hat-trick in 2016 –- also against Lancashire.
After play was delayed by an hour and the Vipers had elected to bowl, Lancashire paced their innings well to get into position to launch in the last three overs, with opener Jones leading the way with 69 off 65 balls.
She posted the Thunder’s highest score in KSL history and shared 64 inside eight overs for the third wicket with Satterthwaite (20) to advance from 59 for two after 10 overs on a green looking but true pitch.
Jones reached 50 off 48 balls in the 14th over for the Thunder, who won only their second ever KSL game by beating Yorkshire Diamonds on Friday.
And their total was only just enough to see off the 2016 champions.
Lancashire Lightining suffered weather frustration as their Vitality Blast top of the table clash with Worcestershire Rapids was abandoned without a ball being bowled yesterday.