KSL catch-up: week one

We catch up with how the Sussex players taking part in the Kia Super League have got on in the first week of this year's tournament. Don't forget the KSL is coming to The 1st Central County Ground on both Tuesday 14th August (Southern Vipers v Surrey Stars double-header with Sussex Sharks v Glamorgan in the Vitality Blast) and Monday 27th August (Finals Day).

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

Adams & Elwiss celebrate hitting the winning runs against Lancashire

v Lancashire Thunder at Southport, Sunday 22nd July (won by five wickets)

Bowling first change, Linsey Smith bowled four tidy overs, condeding just 16 runs and taking the wicket of England player Sophie Ecclestone, as well as taking a catch. Skipper, Georgia Elwiss chipped in with a catch and one over that went for just a single as the Thunder were bowled out for 72 inside 17 overs. Elwiss (19 off 27 balls) and Georgia Adams (22 off 19) then combined to put on an unbroken 39-run fifth wicket partnership as the Lightning secured victory with 29 balls to spare.

v Southern Vipers at Southampton, Wednesday 25th July (won by six wickets)

Taking the new ball, Linsey Smith picked up the early wicket of Sussex teammate Danni Wyatt via the hands of Georgia Adams, before finishing off the Vipers' innings with the stumping of Fi Morris. Adams took two more catches as the visitors were dismissed for 105 off 19.3 overs. Adams was unbeaten for the second match in a row, this time scoring five not out from number five as the Lightning made it two from two. 

Linsey Smith

v Western Storm at Taunton, Sunday 29th July (lost by 18 runs)

In a contest reduced to six-overs-a-side by the rain, Linsey Smith was the only Lightning bowler chosen to bowl two overs rather than one. Her 1-23 included the stumping of England captain Heather Knight for a duck, as the aptly named Western Storm reached 85-2. Georgia Elwiss took the other wicket and ended up with 1-17 from her over. Despite not losing a wicket, the Lightning could only make it to 67 in reply, with neither of the Sussex players making it to the middle. 

Southern Vipers (Paige Scholfield & Danni Wyatt)

 v Surrey Stars at Guildford, Sunday 22nd July (won by seven wickets)

Paige Scholfield recorded figures of 0-21 from two overs and there were three catches from Danni Wyatt during the Stars innings of 141-9. The Vipers were able to chase that down with three overs to spare, with Wyatt scoring six off nine balls at the top of the innings. 

v. Loughborough Lightning at Southampton,  Wednesday 25th July (lost by six wickets)

Danni Wyatt and Paige Scholfield both made seven in the Vipers' innings of 105 all out, before Scholfield bowled one over for eleven runs and Wyatt took a catch during the visitors' succesful chase.

v. Lancashire Thunder at Liverpool, Sunday 29th July (lost by four runs)

Having been set 138 for victory, the Vipers fell just short despite 39 off 29 balls from Danni Wyatt. Paige Scholfield - who hadn't bowled during the Thunder's innings - was our for one at number eight.

Surrey Stars (Sarah Taylor)

Sarah Taylor behind the stumps at Guildford

v Southern Vipers at Guildford, Sunday 22nd July (lost by seven wickets)

Sarah Taylor could only manage six from number three during the Stars' innings, but she did pull off a fine stumping off the bowling of Mady Villiers to dismiss Mignon du Preez during the Vipers' successful chase.

v Western Storm at Cheltenham, Thursday 26th July (won by seven wickets)

Sarah Taylor's two catches behind the stumps helped restrict the Storm to 132-9 from their 20 overs, before a brilliant 50 not out from 34 balls saw the Stars romp to a seven wicket victory with more than four overs to spare. 

Western Storm (Freya Davies)

Freya Davies appeals against Yorkshire 

v Yorkshire Diamonds at Taunton, Sunday 22nd July (won by seven wickets)

Freya Davies was the Storm's best bowler - taking 2-28 from her four overs - as the Diamonds made 162-5. Her victims were two England players: Lauren Winfield and Beth Langston. The Storm's batters then made light work of the chase, reaching their target with 27 balls to spare.

v Surrey Stars at Cheltenham, Thursday 26th July (lost by seven wickets)

Freya Davies made nine not out off eight balls from number nine during the Storm's 132-9, before she came up against an explosive Stars top-order - including Sarah Taylor - that scored 28 runs off her three overs on their way to victory.

v Loughborough Lightning at Taunton, Sunday 29th July (won by 18 runs)

Freya Davies helped the Storm back to winning ways, conceding 22 runs from her two overs with the new ball. This was well below the 14.3 runs per over the Lightning would have required to chase down the 86 they'd been set for victory.