KSL catch-up: week three

Ahead of today's clash between Southern Vipers and Surrey Stars at The 1st Central County Ground (tickets available online until 1pm and on the gate with a £5 premium thereafter - includes tonight's Vitality Blast match between Sussex Sharks and Glamorgan), we look back at the Sussex Women players' involvement in week three of the competition. Just two rounds of fixtures in the group stage now remain before we'll know the identity of the three teams who will be on show at Finals Day, also at Hove, on Monday 27th August.  

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

v Surrey Stars at Guildford, Thursday 9th August (lost by seven wickets)

The Lightning suffered only their second defeat of this year’s tournament in a match reduced to 13 overs a side. Captain, Georgia Elwiss made a quickfire 26 off 21 balls at number five and Georgia Adams eight off nine balls from number six as Loughborough reached 100-7. That wasn’t enough, as the Stars made it home with ten balls to spare. Elwiss picked up two of the three Surrey wickets to fall, trapping Lizelle Lee lbw and having her Sussex teammate Sarah Taylor caught for a first-ball duck. The seamer finished with 2-20 from her 2.2 overs, her figures slightly ruined by the six that Nat Sciver hit to win the match. Linsey Smith bowled two overs for 23 runs.

v Lancashire Thunder at Loughborough, Saturday 11th August (won by 9 wickets)

The Lightning made lightwork of the Thunder and in doing so guaranteed their place at Finals Day at The 1st Central County Ground on Monday 27th August with two group games to spare. Figures of 1-25 off four overs for Linsey Smith and 1-24 off three helped restrict the Thunder to 136-7 from their 20 overs. There was also a catch each for the Sussex pair, Elwiss taking hers off her own bowling.

Western Storm (Freya Davies)

v Lancashire Thunder at Taunton, Thursday August 9th (won by 76 runs)

The Storm’s fifth win in a row and their sixth overall saw them become the first team to book their place at Finals Day. Batting first, the Storm put on 185-4 before bowling Lancashire out for 109 in 18.2 overs. Freya Davies picked up the wicket of Danielle Hazell during her three overs that went for just 15 runs.

v  Southern Vipers at Bristol, Saturday 11th August (No result)

The arrival of a second, uninvited storm scuppered the team’s hopes of a sixth consecutive victory. During the 8.5 overs of the Vipers’ innings that was possible, Freya Davies picked up the wicket of Tammy Beaumont – bowling the England superstar for a first ball duck. The right-arm seamer ended with 1-12 from her two overs before the rain intervened.

Surrey Stars (Sarah Taylor)

v Loughborough Lightning at Guildford, Thursday 9th August (won by 7 wickets)

It was an off-day for Sarah Taylor with the bat. She was out to Sussex teammate, Georgia Elwiss, for a first-baller during the Star’s successful chase.

v Yorkshire Diamonds at York, Sunday 12th August (lost by 9 wickets)

Sarah was rested for this match. The Stars were skittled for just 66, a total the Diamonds reached one down and with 63 balls to spare.

Southern Vipers (Danni Wyatt & Paige Scholfield)

v Yorkshire Diamonds at Southampton, Wednesday 8th August (won by 16 runs)

With Danni Wyatt missing, the Vipers made 159-7 from their 20 overs. There was a highly impressive 22 from just ten balls for Paige Scholfield batting at number seven. Paige then took 1-25 in her three overs as the Diamonds were dismissed for 143 to hand the Vipers their second win of the tournament.

v Western Storm at Bristol (No Result)

Danni Wyatt struck 27 off 20 balls with three fours and a six but 14 balls after she was caught behind the rain intervened and the game was abandoned with the Vipers 62-2.