KSL catch-up: week four

There's less than a week until the grand-finale of this year's Kia Super League at The 1st Central County Ground. After 30 group games over the last four weeks, we now know the identity of the three teams that have made it all the way on the road to Hove for Finals Day on Bank Holiday Monday (27th August) 

Western Storm will take on Surrey Stars in the semi-final at midday, before the winner of that match meets group stage winners, Loughborough Lightning in the final. Tickets are selling fast for the biggest day in women's domestic cricket, secure yours HERE.

As many as seven Sussex players could be involved in finals day, and in our final installment of 'KSL Catch Up', we look back at the contributions of the Sussex Women that featured in the fourth and final week of the group matches. 

Loughborough Lightning (Georgia Adams, Georgia Elwiss & Linsey Smith)

v Western Storm at Edgbaston, Wednesday 15th August (won by nine wickets)

Linsey Smith was very economical during her four overs, conceding just 22 runs. Georgia Elwiss was also impressive with 1-21 as the Storm made it to 124-6 in their 20 overs. That proved a straightforward chase for the Lightning, who lost just one wicket on their way to victory inside 13 overs. Smith, Elwiss and Georgia Adams weren't required to bat. 

v Yorkshire Diamonds at Emerald Headingley, Saturday 18th August (lost by three runs)

Linsey Smith was superb once again and her 2-18 from four overs made her the Lightning's most economical bowler by some distance. Georgia Elwiss also bowled her full allocation, taking 0-29 as the Diamonds made 148-6. Elwiss and Georgia Adams made six and seven not out respectively as the Lightning lost a thriller. Despite the defeat, Loughborough were confirmed as league winners and so took the first final place at Hove. 

Western Storm (Freya Davies)

v Loughborough Lightning at Edgbaston, Wednesday 15th August (lost by nine wickets)

Unused with the bat, Freya Davies then fell victim to some powerful hitting from the Lightning opening batters, going wicketless and conceding 34 runs from three overs as the home side romped to victory. 

v  Surrey Stars at Kia Oval, Saturday 18th August (lost by five wickets)

Again not required to bat as the Storm posted 158-5 in their 20 overs, Davies took the wicket of Dan van Niekerk and finished with 1-29 as the Stars made it home with two balls two spare. Despite two defeats from their final two games, the Storm had already qualified for finals day and will now take on the Stars once again in the semi-final at The 1st Central County Ground on Monday. 

Surrey Stars (Sarah Taylor)

v Southern Vipers at The 1st Central County Ground, Tuesday 14th August (won by four wickets)

In the first ever KSL group game at Hove, Sarah Taylor got the Stars of to a flyer by stumping her England teammate Tammy Beaumont of Laura Marsh for a duck. The Vipers eventually made it to 147-9, but Taylor (38 off 30 balls) and Natalie Sciver put on 73 for the third wicket to set up a successful chase. 

v Western Storm at Kia Oval, Saturday 18th August (won by 5 wickets)

A Sarah Taylor stumping off Dane van Niekerk did for Stafanie Taylor during the Storms's innings on 158-5, but Stafanie got her revenge by having Sarah stumped herself for one during the Stars' reply. It didn't prove too costly, however, as the Stars made it home eventually and booked their place at finals day. 

Southern Vipers (Danni Wyatt & Paige Scholfield)

v Surrey Stars at The 1st Central County Ground, Tuesday 14th August (lost by four wickets)

Danni Wyatt made 15 off 12 balls at the top of the order and Paige Scholfield five from seven at number eight during the Vipers' 147-9. Paige bowled a nerveless fifteenth over conceding just four runs which gave the Vipers hope of defending their total, but some powerful hitting at the death saw the Stars to victory. Danni (1.3-0-17-1)  picked up the wicket of Sophia Dunkley-Brown and took a catch of Suzie Bates to dismiss Dane van Niekerk.

v Lancashire Thunder at The Ageas Bowl, Saturday 18th August (lost by nine runs)

A disappointing campaign for the Vipers ended with a seventh defeat. Danni Wyatt bowled two overs for 12 runs and Paige Scholfield had Amy Satterthwaite caught by Lauren Bell as she picked up 1-28 from her four overs. The Thunder's 162-3 was beyond the Vipers despite Danni's 36 off 21 balls at the top of the order. Paige was out for a duck batting at number seven.