Kia Super League 2017 fixtures

Kia Super League 2017 fixtures

Thursday 10 August – Southern Vipers v Western Storm (Ageas Bowl, live on Sky Sports)

Friday 11 August – Yorkshire Diamonds v Lancashire Thunder (Headingley, live on Sky Sports)

Saturday 12 August – Western Storm v Loughborough Lightning (The Cooper Associates County Ground, live on Sky Sports)

Sunday 13 August – Surrey Stars v Yorkshire Diamonds (Kia Oval, live on Sky Sports)

Tuesday 15 August – Loughborough Lightning v Southern Vipers (The 3aaa County Ground, live on Sky Sports)

Wednesday 16 August – Lancashire Thunder v Surrey Stars (Emirates Old Trafford, live on Sky Sports)

Friday 18 August – Loughborough Lightning v Yorkshire Diamonds (Loughborough)

Sunday 20 August – Lancashire Thunder v Loughborough Lightning (Blackpool CC)

Sunday 20 August – Southern Vipers v Surrey Stars (Ageas Bowl)

Sunday 20 August – Yorkshire Diamonds v Western Storm (York CC)

Wednesday 23 August – Lancashire Thunder v Southern Vipers (Liverpool CC)

Wednesday 23 August – Surrey Stars v Western Storm (Guildford CC)

Saturday 26 August – Surrey Stars v Loughborough Lightning (Guildford CC)

Saturday 26 August – Western Storm v Lancashire Thunder (The Brightside Ground, Bristol)

Saturday 26 August – Southern Vipers v Yorkshire Diamonds (Arundel)

Friday 1 September – Finals day (1st Central County Ground, Hove, live on Sky Sports)

MD
01/II/17

Is extending the KSL to 50 overs the way forward?

Before the inaugural KSL T20 competition had even finished the ECB had issued a Press Release declaring the competition to have been a great success. Not many would argue with that, although there are a few wrinkles that could do with being ironed out - the main one being making the competition longer. The Press Release also linked to a page on the ECB website where Clare Connor answered some questions about the competition (click here to read). At the end of that piece Connor explains what is going to happen next year...

"Next summer the Kia Super League will expand to include a 50-over league competition with the six teams playing each other once either at home or away, and the teams finishing in second and third playing-off to take on the top team in a final.  The 50-over KSL will be played prior to the ICC Women’s World Cup, followed by the KSL T20 competition, which will be the same format as this year and played in a block alongside the men’s NatWest T20 Blast in August."
(since removed from the piece)

It has always been Connor's ambition to extend the competition to the 50 over format, ostensibly, it seems, so that the England players have some good quality warm-up games before the World Cup, which is being staged here in England between 26th June - 23rd July. A laudable ambition, but will it work?

There are a lot of hurdles that it will need to overcome :-

a) Will the overseas players want to come and play in England in May/June? Will Cricket Australia for example want Ellyse Perry and Meg Lanning in England while the rest of their squad are together in a pre-World Cup training camp? For that matter will any other country want this?

b) Without some, or all, of the overseas players will the standard even be as high as county cricket? Twenty four of the 72 English players in the KSL squads currently play their county cricket (if any) outside of Division One of the County Championship.

c) The games will have to be played in May and early June. This is exam time for any young English players at university or school.

d) It has been mooted that the games might be played on Wednesdays to avoid clashing with the Women's County Championship, but this would mean negligible crowds, and clashes with university and school cricket matches.

There are already plans to reduce the number of teams in Division One of the County Championship in 2017 from nine to eight, why not only promote one team from Division Two and make this seven teams? If funded properly (so that it becomes semi-professional), and if the current six Division Two players could be accommodated in those teams, the standard would be just as high if not higher. Why not make this the focus for 50 over cricket in England?

It was interesting to hear Charlotte Edwards confirm that the KSL overseas players had been impressed by the standard of the county girls that have taken part in the KSL. The standard of county cricket is not as poor as many people would have you believe. In the recent Girls of Summer book by David Tossell, Edwards said of county cricket - "When the girls score runs in county cricket, what value is that?...If they score a hundred, well you should score a hundred. If not, why not?" Edward's scores in county cricket this year have been 79, 1, 30*, 18, 34, and 2. Tammy Beaumont, who is the leading run-scorer, has scores of 72, 49, 20, 20*, 53 and 47. She scored far more runs against Pakistan. Indeed no player has scored a century in Division One this year so far. Surely this says something about the standard of bowling in the County Championship?

The KSL T20 competition works, as it is a concentrated hit of the shortest form of the game, which attracts foreign players, spectators, and, no doubt, ultimately, television coverage and therefore money. This will not be the case for franchised 50 over cricket. This will be a massive drain on the stretched resources of the current KSL franchisees.

The integrity and standard of county cricket needs to be maintained. Counties need to be encouraged to develop their local players through age-group cricket and have the pinnacle of that to play county cricket in Division One of the slimmed down County Championship. Counties who are not in Division One will need to be rewarded for players they produce who go on to play at this semi-professional level (Division One), and then KSL and then for England. If senior county cricket withers and dies, as no KSL players have the inclination/energy to play in county matches, then far from bridging the gap between county cricket and international cricket, that gap will just have become even greater.

I may be wrong? I frequently am. But is extending the KSL to 50 over cricket really the best way forward, in the long term, for English women's cricket?

MD
24/VIII/16

Southern Vipers take KSL Title

It was short and sweet. The inaugural KSL tournament has been and gone, and it was the pre-tournament favourites the Southern Vipers that have wandered off into the Essex sunset with the trophy under their arms. 

The day had started with the Western Storm defeating the Loughborough Lightning in the Second v Third semi-final. For once Heather Knight won a toss, but decided to stick with the formula that had worked for the Storm in their league games - bowling first and chasing. It worked again. Lightning were reduced to 30/2 after the six powerplay overs, with Stafanie Taylor picking up both Dane van Niekerk and Georgia Elwiss. Ellyse Perry (64*) and Sophie Devine (21) set about rebuilding the innings, but despite staying together until the 16th over they could only move the score on to 80, before Devine skied Knight to Fran Wilson at midwicket. When Amy Jones and Evelyn Jones were both run out by Sophie Luff in the 18th over it looked as though Lightning might struggle to make it to 100, but Thea Brookes (11) and Perry took 20 off the last over from Taylor to take Lightning to 124/7. In response the Storm lost Rachel Priest (4) early doors, but Heather Knight (52) and Stafanie Taylor (34) took the game away from Lightning with a 57 run partnership in 51 balls before Taylor swept a van Niekerk full toss to backward square leg. It mattered little as Knight and Fran Wilson (23) accumulated steadily. A late flurry of wickets took the game into the last over with just one run required, with Georgia Hennessy obliging from the third ball of the over.

And so to the final. The Vipers won the toss and elected to put the Storm into bat, fearing, it seems, the finishing power of Taylor, Knight and Priest. It was the first time in the tournament that the Storm had batted first and it showed, as having made an impeccable start, reaching 71/0 after 10 overs, the Storm failed to reach a commanding total in excess of 160. For some reason it was the wobbly slow-medium of the becapped 34 year old Arran Brindle (2/15), that tied them up in the middle overs, plus she also accounted for Taylor (35) and Knight (6), caught trying to move the score along. But still the Storm had big-hitters in Priest (57) and Lizelle Lee (6). Priest brought up her 50 having hit Linsey Smith for a 6 and a 4 in the 14th over, but just as she looked to cut loose she hoisted Bates high to midwicket, where Lydia Greenway accepted the catch. Lee never really found her form and scooped a Farrant slower ball to deep long on, and had it not been for 14 off the last over the Storm would have fallen well short of the 140/5 they ended up with. Most feared it was not enough and so it proved as Suzie Bates led the Vipers to 78/0 in just the ninth over before she lost partner Charlotte Edwards (24). When Bates was brilliantly run out by Fran Wilson two overs later, the Storm perked up in the field. A direct hit from Anya Shrubsole at mid-off then saw the end of Georgia Adams (15), and Vipers still needed 37 off 33 balls. But Sara McGlashan (21) and Lydia Greenway (17) kept calm, taking 10 off the 16th over and then 14 off the 18th, to leave them needing just 6 off the last two. They managed it within five balls as Greenway hit a sweet off-drive to the boundary to finish the game.

It was the end of a good day at Chelmsford, despite a rather disappointing crowd of around 1,300, and the end of a brief, but interesting new tournament, which Clare Connor says will be expanded to the 50 over format next season, before the World Cup. The T20 version will remain in August with the same format - so no extension to home and away games as many have asked for, it seems.

Overall the standard of the games has been high. I have personally seen 11 of the 18 games played, with the Storm's spectacular run chase at Bristol probably being the highlight. Some will say that the inclusion of three overseas players has enhanced the standard of the competition. True eight of the top ten run-scorers were overseas players, but they were also the ones who had the most opportunities to score those runs. Many overseas, given similar opportunities, also failed to make any real impact, and prevented local players from being given the opportunity to show what they could do. It is a fine line to tread, but a reduction to two overseas, as was originally planned, surely has to be the way forward?

There are other issues that also need to be addressed. With small crowds are big grounds the way forward? The smaller county grounds would work better. Players also need to be paid a retainer for the tournament and not match fees only for those who play. It would make the franchises think more carefully about some of their "back-up selections" and reward the entire squad of 15 rather than only those who play. 

And finally more games is a must. It seems it will not happen in 2017, which is a huge shame. Five league games is too few. Ten league games would be better for supporters, better for the players, and make it a true competition. I also remain unconvinced about the second/third play-off before the final. Make it two semis and then the final. 

But enough carping. Congratulations to all that played in this year's KSL. It has been fun to watch.

MD
22/VIII/16

KSL Finals Day Preview

So after 15 games the Southern Vipers have made their way safely through to Sunday's final (3pm), where they will meet the winner of the semi-final game played between the Western Storm and the Loughborough Lightning (11am). It should be an intriguing day.

In the league games the only game that the Western Storm lost was by five runs to the Lightning, but they comprehensively beat the Vipers by eight wickets down at Taunton (the Vipers' only defeat). In their last league game the Vipers beat the Lightning comfortably by 59 runs, to inflict their second defeat in five games (they also lost to the Thunder). Just by virtue of the fact that they are already in the final the Vipers will probably be most people's favourites to win the competition, but whoever wins out of the Storm and the Lightning, will have had first-hand knowledge of the pitch and will be ready to play the final. Many think this could be a huge advantage.

The bottom line is that this is a T20 competition and anything could happen. Hopefully Essex will have prepared a good fast wicket, which allows the girls to score plenty of runs. Earlier in the summer England racked up 170/5 against Pakistan on this ground. Interestingly only four members of the England team that played that night have made it to Finals Day - Heather Knight and Fran Wilson (WS), Amy Jones (LL) and Tash Farrant (SV).

On paper the Lightning probably have the longest batting line-up, with a team that is stuffed full of all-rounders. They have dangerous batsmen all the way down to nine and it only takes one to come-off for the Lightning to put a decent score on the board. Top run-scorers are Ellyse Perry (126) and Dane van Niekerk (112). Lightning opened up by scoring 128 against the Diamonds, and then scored 158, 158 and 168 in their next three games, before they were bowled out for just 97 by the Vipers at the Ageas Bowl. Skipper Georgia Elwiss has used seven bowlers with Becky Grundy topping the wicket-takers (8) and Sonia Odedra (5.81) the economy ratings, ahead of internationals van Niekerk, Elwiss, Perry and Devine.

The Storm have used the same eleven players for all five games played so far, with six bowlers sharing the workload. Anya Shrubsole and Stafanie Taylor (8) are the leading wicket takers, and Shrubsole (5.42) is only just behind Heather Knight (5.4) in the economy stakes. Taylor also has the small matter of 220 runs to her name (14, 9, 74*, 78*, 45), with Knight on 141 next in the list. After slow starts Lizelle Lee and Rachel Priest have also chipped in with 50s to their names. Heather Knight is yet to win a toss for the Storm, who have batted second in every game they have played to date, but they have proved they are good chasers.

The Vipers have used 14 players out of what has turned out to be a 16 player squad. Linsey Smith was allowed to play as a temporary replacement against the Thunder, despite the Vipers having 12 fit members in their squad at the time, and was then added as a full replacement for the injured Daisy Gardner. She has spun herself to the top of the Vipers' wicket-takers (8) at 4.33 runs per over, ahead of Suzie Bates (7) and Morna Neilsen (5). She has certainly enjoyed bowling at the Ageas Bowl, but Chelmsford might be slightly different. Kiwis Bates (180) and Sara McGlashan (113) lead the Vipers' run-scorers, helped no doubt by the fact that they both played some county cricket here in England (for Kent and Sussex) before the tournament started.

As for predictions I have put mine in a sealed envelope in my non-existent wall safe, and the envelope will not be opened until Finals Day is over. I will, of course, reveal my predictions at this time. I am quietly confident.

It would be great to see a full house at Chelmsford - you can get tickets here. At just £5 for both games it is an absolute steal. Under 17s are just £1. With the weather forecast looking good it will be a great day, full of tension, excitement and some great cricket. I am pleased to say that I will be there.

MD
18/VIII/16

Stars keep Finals Day hopes alive

In a must-win game for both sides it was the Surrey Stars that produced the more clinical performance as the Lancashire Thunder waved a rather sad farewell to their KSL Finals Day chances.

Having failed to defend 161 against the Western Storm in their last game it was perhaps inevitable that the Stars would opt to bowl first when they won the toss in this one. It produced immediate results when Hayley Matthews' miserable tournament with the bat continued, as she was adjudged lbw to Marizanne Kapp (2/18) for a second ball duck. She clearly felt that she hit it (and may face ECB censure for her protestations to this effect), but when the luck is against you nothing much goes right. After a first over maiden Lea Tahuhu gave Emma Lamb width outside the off stump, allowing her to take 16 off the second over. It was probably Thunder's only bright spot of the afternoon at Guildford, in front of a crowd of probably close to 1,000. Lamb went in the fifth over failing in her attempt at a lofted drive off Kapp again, and being easily caught at mid-off. It meant that Thunder made it to the end of the powerplay on 30/2. They would only add another 72 runs in the next 14 overs as they were strangled by the spin of Alex Hartley (3/11) and Laura Marsh (1/21).

Amy Satterthwaite (34*) and Laura Macleod (17*) were content to knock the ball around and had Hartley taken an easy high return catch off her own bowling to remove Satterthwaite when she was on 10, Thunder probably would have struggled even more. The pair added 38 for the third wicket in 6.4 overs, but collapse was just around the corner. Macleod inside edged a low Hartley full toss onto her stumps; in the same over Deandra Dottin top-edged a sweep third ball to short backward square; next over Danni Wyatt played down the wrong line to Marsh and was bowled; and in the next over Tash Miles was run out after being sent back by her skipper. Thunder were in tatters at 69/6, having been 66/2. Kate Cross' attempts to go aerial then proved fruitless. Dropped at long-on she then lofted another to long-off, off Hartley, and departed. Ellie Threlkeld then became the second run-out victim, again sent back by Satterthwaite and Nat Brown was the third, run out off the last ball attempting a second run. Thunder finished on a disappointing 102/9. Satterthwaite finished on 34* off 43 balls.

Stars knew they had to win, and preferably within 16 overs to claim the extra bonus point. Tammy Beaumont (45*) and Bryony Smith (30) set the ideal platform. They hit 49 in the first six overs, including 10 4s between them. Smith departed in the seventh over, caught on the deep midwicket boundary, but by then her job was done. Nat Sciver, dropped at midwicket when on 1, finally achieved a KSL batting average when she pulled a Matthews' half-tracker straight to Dottin at deep square. It mattered little. Stars were 78/2 in just the eleventh over. Beaumont kept the scoreboard ticking over, despite losing Cordelia Griffith (7) for company, and Stars got over the line with the second ball of the sixteenth over when Kapp hit Satterthwaite for 4.

It means that Thunder effectively join the Diamonds in missing out on Finals Day. Stars kept their hopes alive with their final game on Super Friday (all six teams play) against Loughborough Lightning at Loughborough. They have to win and hope that either Lightning or Storm trip up in their remaining games. Given that Lightning's last game is away against the league-leading Vipers, that is probably not a scenario that the Lightning will want to consider. It means their Friday clash will be full of tension.

Meanwhile, slightly later on Friday, down in Taunton, the Storm will be attempting to seal their place in Finals Day as they take on the Vipers. Should they fail then they will have another attempt on Sunday when they play their last game against Yorkshire Diamonds at Headingley.

The field has narrowed, but all three top spots are still up for grabs for the four teams left in contention.

Lancashire Thunder 102/9
Amy Satterthwaite 34*, Alex Hartley 3/11, Marizanne Kapp 2/18
Surrey Stars 106/3
Tammy Beaumont 45*, Bryony Smith 30

full scorecard here

MD
10/VIII/16

Storm blow Stars away

Western Storm pulled off a remarkable comeback victory against the Surrey Stars, thanks to a blistering 38 runs from the last 11 balls that West Indian batsman Stafanie Taylor faced. It was a game that the Stars had always looked like winning after posting a daunting 161/6 with Nat Sciver 90* from just 45 balls. But somehow it all unravelled for the Stars in the last four overs as Taylor went berserk.

Little did the crowd of around 500 realise what was in store for them as the Stars won the toss and set off at a good pace on a good track with a lightning outfield and short boundaries. Anything that got through the infield was a four. For the Storm Anya Shrubsole (1/12) was impeccable in the powerplay, conceding just five runs from her three overs, but still the Stars were going nicely at 39/1 at the end of the first six, Bryony Smith (19) having been bowled by Shrubsole. In the seventh over Cordelia Griffith (14) was caught at backward point, which meant Sciver walked to the crease to bat with her England team-mate Tammy Beaumont. She survived two early scares as she was dropped on 2 at deep square by Taylor, and then could have been run out two balls later if the ball had been taken cleanly. She needed no second asking. She was brutal on anything short, and the Storm gave her far too much short. She pulled merrily into the onside, invariable beating the two fielders on the boundary. At the other end Beaumont (13) was run out by a good bit of fielding by Taylor off her own bowling, Marizanne Kapp (2) was bowled by a beautiful yorker from Freya Davies (2/38), who then also had Sciver caught at deep square, only for the ball to be called a no-ball on height. There was no doubt it was Sciver's day. Davies then removed Beth Morgan (5), before Sciver unleashed four 4s off the 17th over from Taylor. Naomi Dattani (6) was run out off the first ball of the last over getting Sciver back on strike, which allowed her the chance for a second 6 and a sixteenth 4 as she finished unbeaten on 90. She is yet to be dismissed in the KSL, although the Storm will think they had their chances.

Stafanie Taylor unleashes another boundary
(C) Don Miles

In response the Storm made a disastrous start plunging to 17/3 in the fourth over having lost Rachel Priest (7) run out after a mix-up with Taylor, and Heather Knight (6) and Fran Wilson (0) both lbw to Sciver and Kapp respectively. South African Lizelle Lee, who had two ducks in her previous two KSL games, came to the crease. The Storm needed runs from their imports, and finally they got some. Taylor continued to push singles, but Lee preferred to find the boundary, which she did eight times on the ground and twice in the air for a maximum. She brought up her 50 in the 13th over off 35 balls, as Laura Marsh was dispatched for 17 runs and the pair brought the runs required down to 69 off 42 balls. If they could continue the onslaught then it looked like the Storm might pull off an unlikely victory. But with another flash of genius, Sciver (who else) changed the game as she dived to her left at short cover to catch another screaming drive from Lee (53) off Lea Tahuhu. It meant the 14th and 15th overs produced just three runs and the equation was back up to 66 from 30 balls.

This widened to 56 from the last four overs as Tahuhu bowled another decent over. In the 17th over new bat Sophie Luff (21) took the initiative crashing Kapp for 11, as Taylor added two more singles to the total to be 36 off 37 balls. Finally in the 18th over Taylor let rip, stepping across her stumps and slog sweeping Alex Hartley for consecutive 6s, having already flayed her through extra cover the ball before. 18 off the over reduced the chase to 25 off 12 balls. Taylor and Luff managed a boundary each off Nat Sciver's 19th over which went for 11.

14 were needed from the last with Luff on strike. There was much discussion in the Stars' camp and eventually they decided to bowl Tahuhu, despite Kapp and Farrell both having an over in the locker. Luff pushed the first ball for one and the stage was set for the ice-cool Taylor. Tahuhu bowled full and Taylor drove her over the fielder at long-off for 6; she then went shorter and was picked up to the midwicket boundary where Kapp dropped the catch and the ball flopped over the boundary. Just one was needed off the the next three balls, but Taylor wasn't going to hang about, driving the next ball off the edge to the third man boundary. The Storm had won by five wickets and Taylor finished on 74* off 48 balls.

Surrey Stars 161/6
Nat Sciver 90*, Freya Davies 2/38, Anya Shrubsole 1/12
Western Storm 165/5
Stafanie Taylor 74*, Lizelle Lee 53, Nat Sciver 2/17

full scorecard here

MD
8/VIII/16

Lightning beat Storm in run-fest thriller

Loughborough Lightning, playing their second game in three days on the same strip at Loughborough, just managed to cling on for a five run win over Western Storm despite a heroic knock of 74 (46b) from Storm skipper Heather Knight.

Lightning had posted a daunting 158/8 thanks in the main to an 83 run partnership between Amy Jones (46) and Ellyse Perry (44). Lightning had made a good start through Dane van Niekerk (18), but she was one of three wickets to fall in the powerplay, leaving them on 31/3. Jones and Perry steadied the ship until the tenth over, by which time they had moved the score to 53/3, but they then took 61 off the next six overs, before Freya Davies had Jones neatly stumped by Rachel Priest. Perry went not long after, but Eve Jones hit a powerful 25 off 14 balls to keep the momentum going for the Lightning, who finished on 158/8.

The Storm needed a good start in the powerplay, but tight bowling from Sonia Odedra (2/20) and van Niekerk (1/28) kept them down to just 27 for the loss of Stafanie Taylor and then Priest, bowled heaving at Becky Grundy. Knight and Fran Wilson (21) took the score to 70/2 after 11 overs, with the Storm still needing almost 10 an over to win. It was Knight's cue to really get going, regularly finding the boundary all around the ground. Unfortunately Storm had no-one to match her hitting ability. Wilson fell trying to hit straight over the top and Lizelle Lee edged behind for a duck. Georgia Hennessy joined her skipper with 54 still needed off five overs. 15, including a pulled 6 from Knight, off the 17th over from the previously parsimonious Odedra, reduced the equation to 32 from 18 balls, and the Storm looked like they might be in with a sniff of a dramatic win. But only eight came from the next over from van Niekerk and then seven from the 19th from Elwiss, which also ended with the unfortunate run out of Knight at the bowler's end, as Elwiss deflected a Hennessy drive onto the stumps. It left 17 required off the last over without Knight and it proved just too much.

It meant that Lightning's campaign was back on track with two wins from three games played and Storm are now one and one after two games. Storm meet Surrey Stars at Bristol on Sunday and Lightning next play at home again against Surrey Stars next Friday. On this showing both teams probably deserve a place in Finals' Day, but it is no foregone conclusion that either will make it.

Loughborough Lightning 158/8
Amy Jones 48, Ellyse Perry 46, Eve Jones 25, Anya Shrubsole 2/26
Western Storm 153/5
Heather Knight 74, Sonia Odedra 2/20
full scorecard here

MD
06/VIII/16

Thunder shock the Lightning

Lancashire Thunder pulled off a shock win over the Loughborough Lightning after an impressive batting performance put an imposing 164/8 on the board. The Lightning had no answer losing early wickets until Paige Scholfield (38) and Thea Brookes (30* ) put together a partnership of 69 for the ninth wicket.

Thunder's impressive total was built around a classy innings from Amy Satterthwaite of 52 from 32 balls. She drove with supreme class and elegance. In contrast Deandra Dottin's equally impressive 42 off 29 balls was all about power. She muscled the ball to the boundary on eight occasions and recorded a 6, but only due to four overthrows from a scampered 2. The only genuine 6 belonged to Satterthwaite, and it was an immaculate straight drive off compatriot Sophie Devine. It was not a great day for any of the Lightning bowlers - Ellyse Perry went for 39 off her four overs and Georgia Elwiss 37 off her four, but she did at least get two wickets. Devine only managed two overs for 22 runs.

In reply Lightning lost the wickets of Dane van Niekerk, Devine and Perry in the powerplay to be 36/3 after the first six overs, and it could have been worse had Sophie Ecclestone not shelled an easy catch off Elwiss at mid-off off Hayley Matthews. It looked like it might be a very costly mistake as Elwiss (20) and Amy Jones (27) looked to be rebuilding the Lightning innings, but Jones's crashing drive was deflected back onto the stumps by bowler Dottin, and Elwiss had to go run out. It was the pivotal moment of the game. Amy Jones battled on for 27 before she hit an Ecclestone full toss straight down deep square's throat. The Thunder were 76/6 with only nine overs to come. It was not a position from which they seemed likely to recover, but that was not to take account of the power hitting of Scholfield and Brookes! They took Lightning to within sight of victory at 157/8 with 7 balls to come, before Scholfield heaved once too often and was bowled by Dottin. It left Hayley Matthews with the last over to bowl and just 8 to win. But Matthews kept her cool removing Grundy and then Langston to bring the Thunder home by 6 runs.

Lancashire Thunder 164/8
(Amy Satterthwaite 52, Deandra Dottin 42)

Loughborough Lightning 
(Paige Scholfield 38, Thea Brookes 30*, Amy Jones 27, Sophie Ecclestone 3/23, Hayley Matthews 3/25)

full scorecard here

MD
03/VIII/16

KSL Games 4 & 5 - Preview

The opening weekend of the Kia Super League has to go down as a success on almost all fronts - decent crowds, good weather, good bowling, some great fielding - but perhaps the only let-down has been the batting, with the three losing teams only managing to score in the 80s. But batting is a pretty unforgiving art - one mistake and you are on your way. There is no doubt that all the girls were nervous and there was pressure to perform on the big stage. It seems, on the whole, the bowlers handled it better than the batsmen, but I expect that to change as the tournament goes along.

And so the show rapidly moves on to the next few games - they will come thick and fast over the next two weeks. This week sees Loughborough Lightning host Lancashire Thunder on Wednesday and then Western Storm on Friday; on Thursday Surrey Stars take on Yorkshire Diamonds at the Oval in a floodlit game; also on Friday the Southern Vipers travel to Blackpool to take on the Thunder; and then on Sunday the Storm will battle it out with the Stars at Bristol. So by Sunday evening the Lightning, the Thunder, the Stars and the Storm will all have played three of their five league games.

First up are the Lightning, who comprehensively defeated the Yorkshire Diamonds in their opening game (read here). They take on the Thunder, who lost to Western Storm in their first (read here). The Lightning will be the favourites on home turf, but their strong top order could be well tested by the Cross, Ecclestone, Dottin bowling combo that the Thunder have at their disposal. If they can get amongst them, then this match could be a lot closer than people think. Thunder's problem against the Storm was their batting. It looks rather thin, but it only needs Matthews, Dottin or Wyatt to come off and they could be in business. It is generally a good batting track at Loughborough, so one of these three will really need to get their hands through the ball. The same of course applies to Lightning's international top order of Elwiss, van Niekerk, Devine, Perry and Amy Jones. Devine could be the key wicket for the Thunder, as she looks in good form with the bat. My head says the Lightning will win, but I just have a nagging doubt. Could Thunder pull off a shock?

Thursday gives the Stars and the Diamonds the chance to get some points on the board after opening game defeats, and my money would be on the Diamonds to take away at least two points, if not three, from the game. Surrounded by a lot of inexperienced young batsmen there is a huge amount of pressure on Stars' Tammy Beaumont and Nat Sciver not to give away their wickets. Naturally that stifles their strokeplay and frustrates them. In Brunt, Hazell and Gunn the Diamonds have the bowlers to compound that frustration. I also wonder if we might see Beth Mooney promoted to open the batting with skipper Lauren Winfield for the Diamonds. The left/right combination is annoying for bowlers, and Mooney has the ability to hit in the V really well. Perhaps if the Diamonds bat first, so she has not already spent 20 overs behind the stumps? We shall see.

Given that the Lightning are involved in the Friday game against the Storm I will wait to see how the Lightning play on Wednesday (a game that I will be going to see) before previewing that game, the Thunder v Vipers clash, and Storm's Sunday outing against the Stars.

MD
02/VIII/16

Western Storm silence Thunder

A magnificent bowling and fielding display by the Western Storm allowed them to cruise to a bonus point win over the Lancashire Thunder in their first KSL league game.

The Thunder won the toss and elected to bat on what looked like a good Taunton wicket, in front of about 1,100 spectators, basking in glorious sunshine. The Storm did not let their new followers down as they applied pressure with tight bowling which was backed up by some magnificent catching. The first Thunder player to suffer was Hayley Matthews (7), who had been bogged down by Freya Davies (1/12) and Anya Shrubsole (0/14). Last ball of Davies' second over she attempted a flamboyant extra cover drive, but the ball skewed high off the face to deep cover where Lizelle Lee made great ground to take to the catch.

The Thunder finished the powerplay on 26/1 and got to 10 overs with 48/2 on the board, having lost Amy Satterthwaite (13) bowled by Jodie Dibble. But it was the wicket of Emma Lamb (25) when the score was on 63 to another stunning catch by Lee on the cover boundary off the bowling of Stafanie Taylor, that started a calamitous collapse. It was the first of four wickets for Taylor (4/14), who along with Heather Knight (3/11) bowled overs 12 through to 17 taking seven wickets for 10 runs. This included two further outstanding catches from Cait O'Keefe, at long on, and Knight off her own bowling, to remove Deandra Dottin and Dani Wyatt respectively. The last pair did manage to add 10 more runs, before Georgia Hennessy had Ellie Threlkeld caught behind by Rachel Priest.

Stafanie Taylor
(C) Don Miles

With just 83 to chase the Storm lost Priest (2) early to Kate Cross, but Knight (23) and Taylor (14) seemed to be making serene progress until Taylor was deceived by West Indian teammate Matthews and was stumped. But this brought Fran Wilson (16) to the crease, who along with her skipper took the Storm to within 19 of the runs they needed to win before she was bowled by Dottin (3/8). In the same over Lee came and went, and in the next Knight was bowled by Sophie Ecclestone. Three wickets had fallen for one run. Another collapse looked possible, but Hennessy (11*) restored some calm, despite losing Sophie Luff (6), as the Storm got over the line in the 16th over to ensure a three point start to the season.

Lancashire Thunder 83 all out
Emma Lamb 25, Stafanie Taylor 4/14, Heather Knight 3/11

Western Storm 86/6 (15.3 overs)
Heather Knight 23, Deandra Dottin 3/8

full scorecard here

MD
31/VII/16

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

Kia Super League Rules & Final Details

The Regulations for the new Kia Super League have hit the bookshelves - well the ECB website actually. If you have an insomnia problem then here they are.

I have to admit that I have not read them in full - it's about 250 pages of riveting prose - but a couple of things have leapt out from a first glance.

The first is that the Finals Day will now only be contested by three teams and not the original four. The team that finishes top of the Super League will automatically be in the final, and the teams finishing second and third will play a semi-final, on Finals Day, with the winner meeting the top team in the final later the same day. We know that that Finals Day will be held at Chelmsford on Sunday 21st August, with the following day set aside as a reserve day for Finals Day. There are no reserve days for the league games, so if they are rained off the teams will share the points.

How points are scored in the league games is obviously crucial to the competition, and here there is another unexpected twist. For a win with bonus point there will be 3 points; for a win with no bonus point there will be 2 points and for no result each team will get 1 point. There are no points for a loss. So how is the bonus calculated? Here I have to quote the rules (sorry):-
"The team that achieves a run rate of 1.25 times that of the opposition shall be awarded one bonus point. A team's run rate will be calculated by reference to the runs scored in an innings divided by the number of overs faced."
What this means is that if a side is batting second they will need to chase down the runs needed within 16 overs to achieve a run rate of 1.25 that of their opponents. If a side bat's first then they will need to bowl out or restrict their opponents to 80% of their score - eg if they score 150, then they will have to restrict their opposition to 120 (150 x 0.8). Calculators will be needed if and when rain shortens games or intervenes half-way through games.

And speaking of rain, the third point of interest is that the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern method of recalculating required scores will be used in interrupted matches. It is not a system which works well in T20 cricket in my opinion, and vastly favours the side batting second. With every point crucial I can see some feverish calculations and recalculations being undertaken, if the weather decides to intervene, and it may make winning the toss a big deal.

On first reading I almost missed perhaps the most important part - prize money!! This will be as follows :-

Winning KSL Host - £15,000
Winning KSL Host total player prize money - £25,000

Runner up KSL Host - £10,000
Runner up KSL Host total player prize money - £15,000

Happy reading!!

MD
16/V/16

KSL Squads - Strengths & Weaknesses

With the full squads of 15 having now been named it seems like a good time to take a first look at the strengths of each squad. Of course things will change – there are still over 3 months before the KSL actually swings into action, and a lot can happen within that time, including a run of form or a lack of it, injury, and not to mention an England series against Pakistan in June.

But let’s assume the KSL is starting tomorrow, who would be the strongest team?

 Lancashire Thunder

Key Bats – Deandra Dottin, Emma Lamb, Hayley Matthews, Sarah Taylor, Danni Wyatt

Key Seamers – Sarah Coyte, Kate Cross, Deandra Dottin

Key Spinners – Sophie Ecclestone, Hayley Matthews, Danni Wyatt

Wicketkeepers – Sarah Taylor & Ellie Threlkeld

Likely starting 11 – Danni Wyatt, Hayley Matthews, Sarah Taylor (wk), Deandra Dottin, Emma Lamb, Laura Newton, Sarah Coyte, Tash Miles, Ellie Threlkeld, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone

Explosive top four who could all make a hundred, or could all be out for a duck. No express pace seamers, but Coyte, Cross and Dottin will bear the brunt of the work. Big test for young spinners Matthews and Sophie Ecclestone, with Wyatt likely to get thrown the ball if they are having a bad day.

No place for Academy keeper Ellie Threlkeld behind the stumps with England’s Sarah Taylor choosing to head north to captain the Thunder.

Watching the Thunder could be a hairy ride.

Full Squad :-
Kate Cross, Sarah Taylor (capt), Danni Wyatt (England)
Sarah Coyte, Deandra Dottin, Hayley Matthews (Overseas)
Sophie Ecclestone, Emma Lamb, Ellie Threlkeld wk  (Academy)
Natalie Brown (rhb, 25), Georgia Holmes (ram, 19), Laura Marshall (rhb, 22), Tash Miles (rhb, 27), Laura Newton (rhb, 38), Nalisha Patel (rao, 18) (County)

-----------------------------

Loughborough Lightning

Key Bats – Sophie Devine, Georgia Elwiss, Amy Jones, Dane van Niekerk, Ellyse Perry

Key Seamers – Sophie Devine, Georgia Elwiss, Beth Langston, Ellyse Perry, Sonia Odedra

Key Spinners – Rebecca Grundy, Dane van Niekerk

Wicketkeepers – Amy Jones & Lauren Griffiths

Likely starting 11 – Amy Jones, Dane van Niekerk, Ellyse Perry, Sophie Devine, Georgia Elwiss, Eveleyn Jones, Alex Macdonald, Paige Scholfield, Beth Langston, Rebecca Grundy, Sonia Odedra

A young side led by Georgia Elwiss, who will rely heavily on the experience of their overseas trio – Perry, Devine and van Niekerk – both with bat and ball. Time for Amy Jones, Langston and Elwiss to stake a claim for places in the England teams to tour West Indies and Sri Lanka before the end of 2016. Becky Grundy needs to prove her credentials as England’s left-arm spinner.

Full Squad:-
Georgia Elwiss (capt), Rebecca Grundy, Amy Jones wk, Beth Langston (England)
Sophie Devine, Dane van Niekerk, Ellyse Perry (Overseas)
Evelyn Jones, Alex Macdonald (Academy)
Georgie Boyce (rhb, 17), Thea Brookes (rao/rhb, 23) , Amy Gauvrit (ram, 21), Lauren Griffiths (wk, 29) , Sonia Odedra (ram, 27), Paige Scholfield ( ram/rhb, 20) (County)

-----------------------------

Southern Vipers

Key Bats – Suzie Bates, Charlotte Edwards, Lydia Greenway, Sarah McGlashan

Key Seamers – Suzie Bates, Arran Brindle, Tash Farrant, Megan Schutt

Key Spinners – Alice Macleod, Fi Morris

Wicketkeepers – Carla Rudd, Sarah McGlashan

Likely starting 11 – Bates, Edwards, McGlashan, Greenway, Adams, Brindle, Macleod, Schutt, Morris, Rudd, Farrant

It may seem an odd thing to say with England and New Zealand skippers Edwards and Bates at the top of the order, but the Southern Vipers look a bit light in the batting department. They also only have two genuine spinners in Macleod and Morris. The pressure will be on the top order to put runs on the board.

Full Squad :-
Charlotte Edwards (capt), Tash Farrant, Lydia Greenway (England)
Suzie Bates, Sara McGlashan, Megan Schutt (Overseas)
Georgia Adams, Ellen Burt, Katie George (Academy)
Arran Brindle (rhb/ram, 34), Izzy Collis (rhb, 19), Daisy Gardner (ram, 25), Alice Macleod (rhb/rao, 21), Fi Morris (rao, 22), Carla Rudd (wkt, 22) (County)

-----------------------------

Surrey Stars


Key Bats – Tammy Beaumont, Marizanne Kapp, Meg Lanning, Nat Sciver

Key Seamers – Rene Farrell, Marizanne Kapp, Nat Sciver

Key Spinners – Sophia Dunkley, Alex Hartley, Laura Marsh

Wicketkeepers – Tammy Beaumont, Kirsty White

Likely starting 11 – Beaumont, Kapp, Lanning, Sciver, Smith, Dunkley, Griffith, Morgan, Marsh, Farrell, Hartley

Any team that has Meg Lanning in their batting line-up is going to be strong, but the Stars cannot rely on her to score all their runs. Big series for skipper Nat Sciver and opener Tammy Beaumont. Can they put in match winning performances with the bat? Sciver’s re-modelled bowling action will also be tested, but spin in the shape of Hartley, Marsh and Dunkley could be the Star’s bowling strength.

Full Squad :-
Tammy Beaumont, Laura Marsh, Nat Sciver (capt) (England)
Rene Farrell, Marizanne Kapp, Meg Lanning (Overseas)
Sophia Dunkley, Alex Hartley, Bryony Smith (Academy)
Aylish Cranstone (lhb, 21), Grace Gibbs (ram, 20), Cordelia Griffith (rhb, 20), Raveena Lakhtaria (rao, 23), Beth Morgan (rhb, 27), Kirsty White (wkt, 28) (County)

-----------------------------

Western Storm

Key Bats – Heather Knight, Lizelle Lee, Rachel Priest, Stafanie Taylor

Key Seamers – Freya Davies, Georgia Hennessy, Anya Shrubsole

Key Spinners – Jodie Dibble, Heather Knight, Stafanie Taylor

Wicketkeepers – Rachel Priest, Amara Carr

Likely starting 11 – Priest, Knight, Taylor, Lee, Wilson, Luff, Hennessy, Fairbairn, Shrubsole, Davies, Dibble

Perhaps the most balanced squad, even if they have fewer England/EWA players than any other team. Knight had a good winter leading the unfancied Hobart Hurricanes and she will hope she can do the same for her West Country franchise. Batting looks strong and they have a good mix of seam and spin bowlers to call on.

Full Squad :-
Heather Knight (capt), Anya Shrubsole, Fran Wilson (England)
Lizelle Lee, Rachel Priest, Stafanie Taylor (Overseas)
Freya Davies, Sophie Luff (Academy)
Rosalie Fairbairn (rhb, 32), Amara Carr (wkt, 22), Jodie Dibble (lao, 21), Georgia Hennessy (ram/rhb, 19), Sophie MacKenzie (ram, 17), Caitlin O'Keefe (ram, 19), Izzy Westbury (rao, 26) (County)

-----------------------------

Yorkshire Diamonds

Key Bats – Alex Blackwell, Beth Mooney, Lauren Winfield

Key Seamers – Katherine Brunt, Jenny Gunn, Shabnim Ismail

Key Spinners – Steph Butler, Dani Hazell, Katie Levick

Wicketkeepers – Beth Mooney, Lauren Winfield

Likely starting 11 – Winfield, Mooney, Blackwell, Armitage, Brunt, Gunn, Ismail, Butler, Hazell, Levick, Davidson-Richards

Beth Mooney had a great WBBL with the bat and could be the Diamonds’ key player. Lauren Winfield’s WBBL was not quite so good and she has a lot to prove in this competition. Alex Blackwell is a shrewd signing. She is a great game manager and calming influence. With the ball Brunt will be joined by the firey Shabnim Ismail. It could get explosive. Leg-spinner Katie Levick does well at county level, but how will she handle the step up?

Full Squad :-
Katherine Brunt, Jenny Gunn, Dani Hazell, Lauren Winfield (capt) (England)
Alex Blackwell, Beth Mooney, Shabnim Ismail (Overseas)
Hollie Armitage, Steph Butler (Academy)
Alice Davidson-Richards (ram, 21), Teresa Graves (rhb, 17), Katie Levick (ralb, 24), Anna Nicholls (rhb, 18), Laura Spragg (lam, 33), Katie Thompson (ram, 19) (County)

MD
22/IV/16

Final Kia Super League Line-ups

The final players have been named for the six Kia Super League squads. All the details are below. We will review each team over the next few hours and update this page with our thoughts.


Lancashire Thunder
Kate Cross, Sarah Taylor, Danni Wyatt (England)
Sarah Coyte, Deandra Dottin, Hayley Matthews (Overseas)
Sophie Ecclestone, Emma Lamb, Ellie Threlkeld (Academy)
Natalie Brown, Georgia Holmes, Laura Marshall. Tash Miles, Laura Newton, Nalisha Patel (County)




Loughborough Lightning
Georgia Elwiss, Rebecca Grundy, Amy Jones, Beth Langston (England)
Sophie Devine, Dane van Niekerk, Ellyse Perry (Overseas)
Evelyn Jones, Alex Macdonald (Academy)
Georgie Boyce, Thea Brookes, Amy Gauvrit, Lauren Griffiths, Sonia Odedra, Paige Scholfield (County)



Southern Vipers
Charlotte Edwards, Tash Farrant, Lydia Greenway (England)
Suzie Bates, Sara McGlashan, Megan Schutt (Overseas)
Georgia Adams, Ellen Burt, Katie George (Academy)
Arran Brindle, Izzy Collis, Daisy Gardner, Alice Macleod, Fi Morris, Carla Rudd (County)




Surrey Stars
Tammy Beaumont, Laura Marsh, Nat Sciver (England)
Rene Farrell, Marizanne Kapp, Meg Lanning (Overseas)
Sophia Dunkley, Alex Hartley, Bryony Smith (Academy)
Aylish Cranstone, Grace Gibbs, Cordelia Griffith, Ravena Lakhtaria, Beth Morgan, Kirsty White (County)



Western Storm
Heather Knight, Anya Shrubsole, Fran Wilson (England)
Lizelle Lee, Rachel Priest, Stafanie Taylor (Overseas)
Freya Davies, Sophie Luff (Academy)
Rosalie Birch, Amara Carr, Jodie Dibble, Georgia Hennessy, Sophie MacKenzie, Caitlin O'Keefe, Izzy Westbury (County)



Yorkshire Diamonds
Katherine Brunt, Jenny Gunn, Dani Hazell, Lauren Winfield (England)
Alex Blackwell, Shabnim Ismail, Beth Mooney (Overseas)
Steph Butler, Hollie Armitage (Academy)
Alice Davidson-Richards, Teresa Graves, Katie Levick, Anna Nicholls, Laura Spragg, Katie Thompson (County)

MD
21/IV/16

Kia Super League Teams taking shape

With the announcement today of the three international players who have signed for each of the six Kia Super League teams, the shape and strength of the teams is beginning to emerge. This follows on from the announcement last week of the England players allocated to each team.

Big names are Ellyse Perry to Loughborough Lightning, as suspected; Meg Lanning to Surrey Stars; Suzie Bates to Southern Vipers; and WWT20 winning captain Stafanie Taylor to the Western Storm.

The final piece in the jigsaw is due next week when the two or three Academy players per team will be announced, together with the additional players that each franchise has selected to boost their roster to the full 15. We will wait to comment on the strengths of each squad until the full 15 players have been named, but in the meantime here is how the teams are currently shaping up :-

Lancashire Thunder
Kate Cross, Sarah Taylor, Danni Wyatt
Sarah Coyte, Deandra Dottin, third tba



Loughborough Lightning
Georgia Elwiss, Rebecca Grundy, Amy Jones, Beth Langston
Sophie Devine, Dane van Niekerk, Ellyse Perry



Southern Vipers
Charlotte Edwards, Tash Farrant, Lydia Greenway
Suzie Bates, Sara McGlashan, Megan Schutt



Surrey Stars
Tammy Beaumont, Laura Marsh, Nat Sciver
Rene Farrell, Marizanne Kapp, Meg Lanning



Western Storm
Heather Knight, Anya Shrubsole, Fran Wilson
Lizelle Lee, Rachel Priest, Stafanie Taylor



Yorkshire Diamonds
Katherine Brunt, Jenny Gunn, Dani Hazell, Lauren Winfield
Alex Blackwell, Shabnim Ismail, Beth Mooney



MD
14/IV/16