Lightning win first KSL clash

Loughborough Lightning have taken three points from the first ever KSL T20 match after a 43 run victory over the Yorkshire Diamonds at Headingley.

Having won the toss the Lightning struggled early on, losing Dane van Niekerk (1) early in the powerplay, and only managing 29 in the six powerplay overs. Things got worse when Gerorgia Elwiss (10) was stumped off Dani Hazell in the seventh over, but the introduction of Katie Levick in the ninth over released the shackles as overseas stars Sophie Devine (52) and Ellyse Perry (17) started to move the score along with ease. Devine's 50 came in the 12th over off just 35 balls, but almost immediately Perry was run out, and then Amy Jones was lbw first ball to leave Lightning on 85/4. This soon became 97/7 as Sonia Odedra (9), Devine and Thea Brookes (0) all contrived to get themselves out. Fortunately Eve Jones (12) and Paige Scholfield (13) added a vital 21 for the eight wicket, before Jones was caught at mid-off. Another nine runs were added in the last two overs as Lightning made it to 128/9.

In reply the Diamonds made a great start despite losing Holly Armitage to an lbw decision for 9. Lauren Winfield, dropped first ball ball by Jones behind the stumps, took a liking to Sophie Devine's bowling as she crashed her for three consecutive 4s in the third over, to take Yorkshire to 32/1. But having taken the score to 37 Yorkshire lost three key wickets - Winfield (23) run out after a misfield by bowler Perry, Alice Davidson-Richards (3) caught by Perry in Rebecca Grundy's first over, and Beth Mooney (0) lbw to the same bowler two balls later. The guts had been ripped out of the Yorkshire innings, and they never recovered. Katherine Brunt (16) and Dani Hazell (15) did what they could, but the Diamonds were bowled out in the 17th over for 85 - still 18 short of the bonus point score and a hat full of runs short of the Lightning's total.

Loughborough Lightning - 128/9
Sophie Devine 52, Jenny Gunn 2/20. Dani Hazell 2/22
Yorkshire Diamonds - 85 all out
Lauren Winfield 23, Rebecca Grundy 3/21, Georga Elwiss 2/6, Sophie Devine 2/27
full scorecard here

MD
30/VII/16