Vipers earn top spot as Edwards finds some form
Adam Collins rounds up the group stage action of the prestigious inaugural T20 competition
The slow start to the Kia Super League feels long ago after a flurry of runs to end the regular season; the field of six cut in half after 15 group games that will encourage administrators both on field and off.
After they both successfully claimed wins in fixtures on Friday,Western Storm and Loughborough Lightning won the right to face Southern Vipers on Finals Day this Sunday.
Surrey Stars’ failure to produce any consistency across their five games came back to haunt them, joining Yorkshire Diamonds and Lancashire Thunder as the jettisoned trio. Van Niekerk leaves Loughborough laughing Surrey’s sudden-death fixture started well at the toss, Nat Sciver attempting to replicate their success from earlier in the week by popping in their Loughborough hosts. But this time it backfired badly, courtesy of Dane van Niekerk’s all-round brilliance.
The South African had struggled badly to this point, making 19 runs across her first three KSL innings for the Lightning. But after putting on a brisk 69 with captain Georgia Elwiss for the first wicket, she was back in business. Then the foot went down. Alongside Ellyse Perry (28 not out from 13 balls),Van Niekerk made the highest score in the tournament, a 63-ball 91, in Loughborough’s imposing 168-6.
The South African skipper was quickly at it again, now with her leg-breaks. First she defeated Bryony Smith, stumped by Amy Jones, before finding Cordelia Griffith’s leading edge in her next over, the visitors reeling at 25-2.
Surrey had no choice but to attack via England teammates Sciver and Tammy Beaumont, but when they both fell before halfway, the chase was as good as over. In the case of the latter,Van Niekerk also brought about her downfall, this time via a direct hit run out.
With Surrey out of contention, Loughborough’s 34-run win confirmed their progress. Storm muddy up Vipers record After suffering a concussion before batting in the opening game – missing the next as a consequence – then failing to score in her start after that, Charlotte Edwards was due a run. She made 30 of them, as her opening stand with New Zealand skipper Suzie Bates clicked for a run-a-ball 73 against the Storm.
It was the player who succeeded Edwards in England’s top job who changed the trajectory of the game. Heather Knight’s off-spin accounting for both openers, but by then Bates had 57, her highest score of the competition. Even so, from that base, the Vipers should have finished with more than 137-3.
Sensing the opportunity to knock off the undefeated Vipers,Western Storm’s other experienced international captain – Stafanie Taylor – was in the form to do just that. First she put on 65 with Knight (31 in 32 balls) before combining with Fran Wilson (25 not out) to knock off the runs with 13 balls to spare.
The West Indies captain finished unbeaten on 78 from 51 balls, leaping to the top of the competition’s run-scorers list. And, with that, the Storm were through to the final three as well. No Roses rubber is ever dead Neither Yorkshire nor Lancashire had much to play for, but that’s not how these matches play out at Old Trafford, even if hindsight would have probably put this match at the start of the tournament.
For the Diamonds it was the same old story early on, slumping to 16-2. However, Australian Alex Blackwell found her mark, making 59, while Katherine Brunt clobbered 36 as the two put on 69 in just 37 balls as Yorkshire set a healthy 166-6.
With six of those runs coming in the form of a penalty for the Thunder’s slow over rate, the hosts did themselves no favours. Then, after international batsmen Hayley Matthews and Danielle Wyatt both fell early, the collapse was again on for them.
A Brunt hat-trick to end the chase prematurely made sure of it, Lancashire dismissed for a paltry 75. Vipers deflect Lightning in race for top spot With the Vipers and Lightning assured of progression, their Sunday face-off offered automatic progress to the final.
Edwards’ side again benefited from a robust opening stand with her and Bates putting on 49. But it was two other experienced players who did the heavy lifting, Kiwi Sara McGlashan (34) and former England batsman Lydia Greenway (29 not out). Combined, these contributions pushed the hosts to 156-4.
After impressing against the Storm, Eve Jones was thrown to the top of the order and it worked, with 33 of their first 36 runs coming from her bat. Perry made 35 but that was more or less it from the visitors, bundled out for 97.
Linsey Smith continued her unexpected time in the spotlight to claim another three more wickets with her left-arm spin, while veteran Arran Brindle picked up three herself as the Vipers confirmed top spot. Shrubsole’s Diamond heist Yorkshire finished how they started: with a loss at Headingley. Captain Lauren Winfield was back in touch with 32 before Beth Mooney repaid the faith shown in her with 56 but 118 all out on the final ball wasn’t ideal.
In fairness to the Diamonds, they had to withstand Anya Shrubsole at her penetrative best, the England vice captain running amok with two wicket maidens at either side of the innings; a very rare quadruple wicket maiden in the Storm’s last over bagging her 5-23.
Inspired by the finish, the Storm never looked like losing. Once again it was Taylor at the top, this time making 45 as part of a 101-run opening stand with New Zealand’s Rachel Priest, who clocked 50 in 35 balls.With Loughborough’s loss, they cruised into second spot. Finals Day, at Chelmsford – Sunday 1pm: Loughborough Lightning v Western Storm The last time these teams met it was the game of the tournament, both sides overcoming early troubles before sizable middle order recoveries, the Lightning nabbing a valuable win.
To repeat the dose they’ll rely heavily on their leaders – international skippers Knight and Taylor in both disciplines, with England vice-captain Shrubsole leading the attack.
Meanwhile, Loughborough have been the far quieter achievers to date. They’ll long for Van Niekerk to get hot again, and Perry to do as she regularly has for Australia and perform to her best when the stage is biggest. 4pm: Southern Vipers v Loughborough/Western For the Vipers, it comes down to whether their brigade of older and experienced can show enough nous to take the inaugural trophy. One thing is for sure: Edwards and Bates’ now-flourishing top of the order partnership will daunt whoever they play.
“Loughborough have been the far quieter achievers. They’ll long for Van Niekerk to get hot again and Perry to do as she does for Australia ”