Danni Wyatt smashes century while Freya Davies continues to impress

We catch up with the Sussex players' contributions in the second week of this year's Kia Super League...  

Danni Wyatt smashed the second highest score in the history of the Kia Super League – and the first hundred by an English player – as Southern Vipers romped to victory against Surrey Stars at Arundel on Sunday. Her 60-ball 110 was the mainstay of the Vipers’ 178 for 5. Paige Scholfield made four not out, before taking the Stars’ final wicket with her fourth ball to seal an 89-run victory. On Thursday, Danni was involved in a dramatic game at The 1st Central County Ground on the previousThursday. She conceded seven in her solitary over during the Stars’ innings of 132 for 7 and was out for one as the Vipers later scored 11 runs off the final over to tie the match.  

Special day yesterday 🤗 Thanks a lot for the messages 😁 Great win @VipersKSL 🐍🧡 📸 @DaveVokesPhoto pic.twitter.com/18VcPLuPza

— Danielle Wyatt (@Danni_Wyatt) August 19, 2019

Freya Davies demonstrated why she is rated so highly by England when she returned sensational figures of 4 for 27 in Western Storm’s 40-run win over Loughborough Lightning last Tuesday. Freya played her part in another Storm win – against Yorkshire Diamonds – at York on Thursday. The seamer took the wicket of Diamonds’ top scorer Hollie Armitage as the home side made 151 for 9 batting first. That proved a comfortable chase for the Storm, who cruised to a nine-wicket victory with more than five overs to spare. Western Storm made it six wins from six on Sunday with victory over Lanacashire Thunder. Freya proved very difficult to get away, conceding just 22 runs from her four overs and taking the key wicket of Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur as Lancashire made 159 for 8. The Storm reached their target with a ball and five wickets in hand to cement their place at the top of the table.

Linsey Smith took 1-37 for Yorkshire Diamonds as they got their first win of this year’s captain in the Roses clash against Lancashire Thunder last Tuesday. Defending 151 for 6, the Diamonds were under threat from a 30-run sixth wicket partnership that had left the Thunder needing 32 from 20 deliveries. Cue Linsey removing last recognised batter Emma Lamb for 32 and Lancashire being bowled out nine runs short. Two days later and Linsey (0 for 43) was one of a number of Diamond bowlers on the receiving end of Rachel Priest and Smriti Mandhana’s onslaught at the top of the order as Western Storm romped to a nine wicket win. The Diamonds suffered another defeat on Sunday against Loughborough Lightning. Linsey’s 3.1 overs went for 25 runs and brought the wicket of Sussex teammate Georgia Elwiss as the Lightning chased down 130 for the loss of four wickets. With just one win from their five matches, Yorkshire have only Lancashire beneath them in the table.

Elwiss and Georgia Adams were the two Sussex players on the Lightning in that match. Elwiss took the crucial wicket of Diamond’s top-scorer Jemimah Rodrigues who was going great guns with 58 off 39 balls. Adams contributed with a catch as Yorkshire were all out for 129. Elwiss made 10 and Adams nine out out – including the winning runs – during Loughborough’s successful chase. Elwiss missed Loughborough’s previous match against Surrey Stars last Thursday, which saw Adams make a brilliant 34 off 27 balls as part of a 92-run fourth-wicket partnership with Mignon du Preez as the side chased down Surrey Star’s 120 for 7 with ease. Two days previously, the two Georgias as well as Tara Norris were in action against Western Storm. Tara bowled one over for seven runs and Elwiss three overs for 21 runs and the wicket of Heather Knight via a brilliant diving catch from Georgia Adams as the Storm scored 158 for 4. Elwiss (12) and Adams (17) both got starts, but the Lightning were bowled out 41 runs short of victory. After six matches, the Lightning occupy the third and final qualification berth.

This was something special from Georgia Adams earlier#KSL2019pic.twitter.com/M2SNoTYcRl

— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) August 13, 2019

Sarah Taylor played in Surrey Stars defeat against the Vipers at Arundel on Sunday. She took a catch behind the stumps as the home team racked up 178 for 5 and was the Stars’ top scorer with 19 as they collapsed to 99 all out. That was the team’s second defeat of the tournament, and with two wins and a no result the Londoners sit in fourth place.