Storm beat the odds to win KSL2017

Western Storm went one better than they did last year, when they beat Southern Vipers by 7 wickets on Friday to whisk the KSL trophy back to the west country for a year.

It was a victory that few people saw coming, particularly after the disastrous start to the Storm campaign against the same team at the Ageas Bowl on the opening day of the tournament. Bowled out for 70, Vipers wiped off the runs in just 9 overs, losing just one wicket, including 34 off one over from Kiwi import Holly Huddleston. Not only did Storm lose but they destroyed their Net Run Rate. Finishing level with another team and hoping to qualify was now out of the window!

With just five league games before Finals Day, it meant that Storm could not afford another loss. Could they pick themselves up before they played Loughborough Lightning, just two days later? In their favour the game was being played at home at Taunton -  already the Storm's favourite ground (victories over Vipers and Lancashire Thunder in front of good crowds there in the 2016 campaign had ensured that). On the negative side was the lack of England World Cup heroine Anya Shrubsole for the second game in a row.

Storm won the toss and inserted their opponents - they like to chase, in fact they love to chase. They restrict Lightning to 108/9 with Stafanie Taylor taking 4/5. Half the Storm overs are bowled by non-internationals for 58 runs. Storm make a slow start in their run chase and still need 60 off last 10 overs, but they have wickets in hand. The equation comes down to 24 off the last three overs - Taylor and the bustling Sophie Luff are at the crease. They take 14 off the 17th over from Grundy, and they make it home with the first ball of the last over. Campaign back on track.

Next up is the long trip to York Cricket Club. Nine hours on the team bus from Exeter!! That's a long bus ride home if they lose. But Rachel Priest ensures it's a journey worth making as she smashes 106* off 65 balls as the Storm chase down Diamonds 160/7 in 17 overs without losing a wicket. Priest's contributions before that game had been 3 and 0. Who would have thought she would go on to be the tournament's leading run scorer (261 runs at an average of 43.5)?

Meanwhile Surrey Stars are breezing through the tournament. Stars are undefeated in their first three games. They are Storm's next opponents, and they keep their unbeaten run going, and ensure themselves of a place in Finals Day, after posting an imposing 169/6. Storm hit 26 off the first two overs of their reply, but end the powerplay at 43/4. There is no way back from there despite good knocks from Lissy Macleod (30) and Georgia Hennessy (28). Storm are bowled out for 117. Everything rests on their final game with Lancashire Thunder, and how Diamonds get on against Vipers, who are also already through to Finals Day. Level on points with Diamonds going into the games, Storm know they must win and get more points out of their game, than Diamonds get out of theirs.

Another good bowling performance, with Huddleston having been dropped to the bench, restricts Thunder to 123/5, and Priest smashes another 50 off just 22 balls this time, to take Storm to 67/1 at the end of the powerplay. The game looks done, but Storm slip to 73/4 and it is Sophie Luff 24* and Georgia Hennessy 16, who steady the ship with a 30 run partnership, which means Storm run out winners in the 18th over. There is no bonus point win, but the four points are enough as Diamonds lose to Vipers. It means Storm have made it to Finals Day in third spot, and have to take on Stars in the semi-final, who lost their unbeaten record in their final league game to Lightning. No-one gives Storm much of a chance.

Stars have only used their five international bowlers - Kapp, Sciver, Hartley, Farrell and Marsh throughout the entire tournament. Storm again choose to leave one of their international bowlers sitting on the bench. Skipper Knight has faith in the previously unknown 30 year old off-spinner Claire Nicholas; blonde pace bowler Freya Davies; and left arm spinner Jodie Dibble. Her faith is rewarded as Nicholas and Dibble go for just 30 off their eight overs, with Nicholas picking up Tammy Beaumont's wicket, and Davies 19 off three overs with the wicket of Lizelle Lee in her first over. Stars can only make it to 100/7 in their 20 overs and despite an early wobble (17/4) Storm manage to get over the line thanks to 37* from Stafanie Taylor and 21 from Hennessy.

No change to the Storm team for the final. Set 146 to win they make another positive start to the chase. The last over of the powerplay from Linsey Smith is taken for 25 runs - 22 of them to Rachel Priest. It means Storm are 62/1 at the end of the powerplay and ahead of the rate. Cool heads are required when Priest is caught on the deep midwicket boundary for 72 off 36 balls, and Stafanie Taylor can only bat with a runner. Fortunately Storm have the Ice Queen (Taylor) and the Duracell Bunny (Luff), who casually take Storm over the line with two overs to spare.

There have been some magnificent individual match-winning performances, as there always are in T20 cricket, but Storm's winning formula seems to be a realisation that there are eleven players in the team and each one of them has a job to do. On some days they will do it better than others, but provided enough of them stood up to be counted in each match they had a chance of getting over the line. It wasn't always pretty, but it was effective. A triumph for a collective belief in a team's overall ability.

Well played the Storm - worthy KSL2017 Champions!!

MD
04/IX/17

KSL Match Notes - Finals Day

Semi-Final & The Final

Stars v Storm

Vipers v Storm

Stars v Storm

* Stars win the toss and decide to bat

* Claire Nicholas (was Thomas) pins Stars down with her off-spin, going for 2, then a maiden, and then getting Tammy Beaumont in her third (fifth of the innings). Stars 12/1

* In the next over Freya Davies gets Lee caught at deep square - Stars 18/2, which is how they finish the powerplay.

* Spin continues to tie Stars down and Sciver perishes in the 10th over off Knight - 42/3, which moves on to 46/3 at the end of the 10th over

* Progress remains slow and Kapp is next to go for 19 in the 14th over - Stars 63/4

* Sophia Dunkley (30) and Bryony Smith (19) add 32 for the fifth wicket off 35 balls, but both perish in the last over as does Farrell, which gives Anya Shrubsole 3/22 and Stars finish on 100/7.

****

* Storm make the perfect start with 12 off the first over, but lose skipper Knight in the second to Kapp, swiflty followed by Wilson out for a golden duck. 12/2 becomes 12/3 as Priest is bowled by Sciver's first ball.

* In Kapp's next over Luff edges behind and Storm are in trouble at 17/4. Had Tammy Beaumont held on to a regulation catch two balls later Hennessy would have been on her way and Storm 19/5, but instead...

* Stafanie Taylor 37* and Georgia Hennessy 21 take Storm to 61 before Hennessy charges Marsh and misses.

* 61/5 becomes 67/6 as Macleod's stay is short. Taylor and Shrubsole take Storm almost there - 91/7 with 16 balls to come, and they get home and into the final with 7 balls to spare

full scorecard here

Vipers v Storm

* Storm win the toss and not surprisingly decide to chase

* Runs come quite easily in the powerplay for Hayley Matthews (31), who looks in good touch, and Suzie Bates (21), who doesn't. Powerplay 38/0 but Storm did drop Bates

* 8th over and Stafanie Taylor gets countrywoman Matthews - 47/1

* Adams doesn't last long - stumped off Taylor (58/2), and in her next over she gets Bates too, lbw - Vipers 64/3 at halfway stage

* Danni Wyatt, dropped early by Luff, is brilliantly caught by Hennessy at long on low down and Vipers are 100/4 at the end of the 15th over

* Mignon du Preez adds a useful 31 before being caught at backward point. Vipers 117/5 with 15 balls to come.

* Last over flourish from Charlotte Edwards (17 off Shrubsole's over) takes Vipers to a competitive 145/5

****

* Storm lose Knight early in the powerplay and are 37/1 at the end of the fifth over, but the sixth over from Linsey Smith is muscled away for 25, with Rachel Priest reaching her 50 off just 26 balls. Storm 62/1 after first six overs. (Smith who has been ill all week leaves the field)

* Fran Wilson is bowled by a looping Brindle yorkie in the ninth over - Storm still going well on 80/2

* It looks like Priest is unstoppable, but she smashes a George halftracker out to deep midwicket where Wyatt takes a tumbling catch. She hit 72 off 36 balls. Storm 94/3 at halfway. Only need 52 off next 10 overs with Taylor and Luff at the crease

* Vipers look resigned to the defeat as the pair knock the ball around for singles and boundaries

* Just 18 runs needed off the last five overs, and then six off the last three. With just one required Taylor launches the ball over long on for 6! Storm win by 7 wickets with 2 overs to spare

full scorecard here

KSL Match Notes - The Last Round

Matches Thirteen, Fourteen & Fifteen
Stars v Lightning
Storm v Thunder
Vipers v Diamonds

* All to play for for Diamonds, Storm and Lightning, with one place still available on Finals Day

* At the top it was between Stars & Vipers to see who made it straight through to the final

Stars v Lightning
* The first shock of the day was a bonus point win for the resurgent Lightning, courtesy of the Misses Villani (71) and Perry (68*). They posted a massive 171/3 on the same pitch that the Surrey Stars men had posted over 200 on the day before (and lost)

* No such worries for Lightning as the previously unbeaten Stars crumbled to 90 all out, with only Nat Sciver 24 and Tammy Beaumont 11, getting into double figures.

* The bonus point win meant that should Storm and Diamonds both lose, then Lightning would take third spot

Full scorecard here

Storm v Thunder
* Without a win Thunder were inserted by Storm, who, level on points with Diamonds, knew they needed a win, or possibly a bonus point win. If they were to finish equal on points with Diamonds then Diamonds would get through on NRR.

* Decent powerplay for Thunder as they make it to 40/2 - Jonassen and Jones the casualties, but then Miles goes hit wicket for 0 - 41/3

* Amy Satterthwaite 44 and Emma Lamb (in at 5) 30* add 69 for the fourth wicket, but it takes them 12 overs.

* Just 8 balls left when Satterthwaite goes and Thunder make it to 123/5, which looks under par

* It looks even more under par when Rachel Priest races to her 50 off just 26 balls

* At the end of the powerplay Storm are cruising towards a bonus point win on 67/1

* But Wilson, Taylor and Priest all go in quick succession to leave Storm more nervously on 73/4

* They decide to just go for the win and hope that Diamonds don't get a bonus point win. Sophie Luff 24* and Georgia Hennessy 16 steady the ship  and Storm take the win but in the 18th over (just a 4 point win). If Diamonds win with a bonus point then they will go through.

Full scorecard here

Vipers v Diamonds
* Careful start for the Vipers but they lose Bates, and then just after the powerplay Adams - 36/2. Wyatt follows soon after 55/3

* When Hayley Matthews is out for 40 with the score on 78/4 in the 13th over it looks like Vipers may struggle to post a competitive score

* But Mignon du Preez (50*) and Arran Brindle (11) add 58 for the fifth wicket to take Vipers to 136/5. They finish on 138/6. Diamonds need to chase it down in less than 16 overs if they want a bonus point win.

* They add 31 for the first wicket, but then lose five wickets for just four runs and look up against it at 35/5. Can they even get a win?

* Katherine Brunt 42 and Alice Davidson-Richards 14 look to get them back on track, but the overs are ticking by. ADR is out with the score on 77 in the 14th over and Brunt unluckily run out backing up in the 17th over with the score on 100.

* It is too much for the lower order to deal with and they are bowled out for 108, which means Vipers go straight to the final and Stars will play Storm in the semi-final which preceeds it.

Full scorecard here

MD
27/VIII/17

KSL Match Notes - Games 11 & 12

Match Eleven & Twelve
Thunder v Vipers 
Stars v Storm

Thunder v Vipers
* A chance for the Vipers so secure their place at Finals Day against lowly Thunder, without a win in the competition so far.

* Thunder win the toss and elect to bat

* Not much goes right for them after that

* By the end of the 5th over they are 11/4 and the game has effectively gone - Lamb, Taylor, Satterthwaite & Jones all out - Linsey Smith in the wickets 3/16

* Only Danni Hazell 37 & Kate Cross 19 put up any resistance - Thunder are bowled out off the last ball for 87

* In the chase Vipers slip to 26/3 with even the invincible Suzie Bates out, but Dani Wyatt 46* and Arran Brindle 19 bring it home for the Vipers in less than 15 overs for another bonus point win and a place in Finals Day, but will they finish top?

Stars v Storm
* The Stars too can make it to Finals Day with a win here. They lose the toss and Storm elect to bowl and chase

* First ball and Tammy Beaumont is given out lbw, but from there on its all Stars with ex-Stormer Lizelle Lee at the fore with a brutal 72*. She is supported by Marizanne Kapp (48) and thumping cameo from Nat Sciver with 30 off 18 balls.

* The Stars post a massive 169/6

* The Storm's reply starts well with 12 off Kapp's first over and 14 off the second from Laura Marsh - Storm on track on 26/0

* But two in two in the third over derails the Storm innings and they end up 43/4 at the end of the powerplay with their top order gone - Knight, Wilson, Taylor and Priest.

* Luff joins them back in the hutch and Storm are 47/5

* Good partnership between Lissy Macleod 30 and Georgia Hennessy 28 saves the Storm's blushes, but there is no way back.

* They are bowled out in the last over for 117.

* Its a shoot out now between Storm and Diamonds for the third spot on Finals Day. Both are on 8 points, but Diamonds have a far superior run rate. Storm play Thunder and Diamonds play Vipers. Lightning are waiting in the wings if both slip up and they beat Stars in their last game.

MD
24/VIII/17

KSL Match Notes - Storm v Lightning

Game Three
Storm v Lightning
12th August 2017

* The international injury woes continue - Shrubsole still not fit for Storm (although she was involved in warm-up) and Ellyse Villani misses the game injuring her shoulder in a warm-up game of touch rugby

*Storm win the toss and elect to bowl

* Lightning get to 38/1 in the 6 powerplay overs - Jones ct Nicholas b Davies 21

* Key moment is last ball of the 8th over. Perry knocks the ball towards vacant mid-on region and sets off, but Stafanie Taylor swoops in from midwicket, picks up and underarms the stumps down. Perry run out for 25 (off 28).

* Davies completes four overs with 1/17 (score 54/2)

* Stafanie Taylor replaces Davies and takes three wickets in her first over - Lightning 59/5 after 10 overs

* With five to go Lightning have limped to 76/6 with Scholfield another victim for Taylor who ends with 4/5 off her four overs

* Marie Kelly 18 (30) and Lucy Higham 6 (7) add 22 for the 7th wicket in four overs

* Lightning make it to 108/9 after their 20 overs

****

* Storm make the worst possible start when Kristen Beams bowls Rachel Priest for 0 in the first over

* Once again Storm don't make enough in the powerplay - 27/1 after 6 overs (and 10 of those came off the bat of Heather Knight in the last over)

* Just as she seems to be getting going Knight is run out for 24 (27) - Storm 41/2 (8.4 overs)

* Storm need 60 from the last 10 overs with eight wickets in hand

* Equation comes down to 46 off seven overs, but with only seven wickets in hand after Georgia Hennessy goes for 23 (29).

* Five left - 34 needed

* Fran Wilson skies a catch - 77/4 with 27 balls to come (32 needed)

* Storm need 24 off three overs, but Taylor (The Iceburg)  is still there.

* 17th over from Grundy goes for 14 and that is the ball game

* They bring it down to two needed with seven balls left, but Taylor departs to a great catch from Scholfield at long on (34 off 32 balls)

* Luff hits Perry's first ball of the last over for the winning runs. Storm win by 5 wickets with five balls to spare.

Full scorecard here

Video highlights here

MD
13/VIII/17

KSL Match Notes - Vipers v Storm

Game One
Vipers v Storm at the Ageas
10th August 2017

* Toss won by the Vipers who inserted the Storm

* Storm waste the powerplay getting to 19/2 after 6 overs (Priest ct behind 3 & Knight bowled 1)

* Linsey Smith completes her four overs straight off with 1/9

* Hennessy hits 14 off the 9th over from Brindle (only boundaries of the innings) but is out next over lbw to Bates for 22 (31 balls)

* After 10 overs Storm are 41/3 with Stafanie Taylor & Fran Wilson at the crease

* 41/4 (Taylor 8); 44/5 (Luff run out by direct hit from Edwards); 58/6 (MacLeod 4 lobs catch back to Bates); 61/7 (Wilson 10 caught behind chasing wide one); 62/8 (Dibble 2 run out) ; 62/9 (Nicholas 0 bowled Matthews)

* Storm bowled out for 70 with 7 balls to come as Freya Davies 7 is run out by direct hit from the cover boundary by Smith

****

* Suzie Bates & Hayley Matthews open for Vipers - first over maiden which includes a simple missed stumping of Bates by Rachel Priest; second over 4; third over 9 (2 sumptious drives from Matthews)

* Fourth over from Kiwi international Holly Huddleston goes for 34!! It included four no balls.

* Matthews skews drive to cover & is caught in sixth over - 55/1

* Bates finishes the game with last ball of the ninth over going for 6. She is 47 not out and player of the match

Link to scorecard

Video highlights here

MD
11/VIII/17

Kia Super League 2017 is go.....

The second edition of the Kia Super Leagues T20 competition is ready to go.

KSL2 kicks off on Thursday 10th August with a rematch of last year's final between the Southern Vipers and the Western Storm at the Ageas Bowl. The competition was officially launched last night, although with many of the England players on a break and very few overseas players back in the UK it was a low-key affair.

Two internationals who were due to play have had to pull out through injury - Dane van Niekerk (Vipers) and Beth Mooney (Diamonds), but news has come in today that Mooney's replacement for Yorkshire will be Sri Lanka's Chamari Atapattu. This is great news for her and for Sri Lankan women's cricket.

Here are the full squad lists (15 players) and the possible starting XIs for each team, plus a look at their relative strengths and weaknesses.

Lancashire Thunder
Squad
Dani Hazell ©, Sarah Taylor, Kate Cross (England contracted)
Amy Satterthwaite, Jess Jonassen, Lea Tahuhu (Overseas)
Sophie Ecclestone, Emma Lamb, Eve Jones, Ellie Threlkeld (England Senior Academy)
Tash Miles, Natalie Brown, Alice Dyson, Rachel Dickinson, Ella Telford (County)
Likely Line-Up 
1. Lamb, 2. Jones, 3. Taylor, 4. Satterthwaite, 5. Jonassen, 6. Miles, 7. Threlkeld, 8. Cross, 9. Hazell, 10. Ecclestone 11. Tahuhu
Key Player
Sarah Taylor - More as a batsman than as a keeper (she may even give the gloves to Ellie Threlkeld on some occasions!). She has the ability to score runs quickly against any type of bowling attack.
Strengths/Weaknesses
They look like a very balanced side, and will be hoping their new overseas players (Jonassen and Tahuhu) contribute a bit more than Deandra Dottin and Hayley Matthews did last year.
Where will they finish?
2nd 1st

Loughborough Lightning
Squad
Georgia Elwiss ©, Amy Jones, Beth Langston (England contracted)
Ellyse Perry, Kristen Beams, Elyse Villani (Overseas)
Paige Scholfield, Thea Brookes, Georgie Boyce (England Senior Academy)
Becky Grundy, Sonia Odedra, Marie Kelly, Sarah Glenn, Lucy Higham, Abi Freeborn (County)
Likely Line-Up
1. Elwiss, 2, Villani, 3. Perry, 4. Jones, 5. Scholfield, 6. Boyce, 7. Brookes, 8. Odedra, 9. Grundy, 10. Langston, 11. Beams
Key Player
Ellyse Perry - She will be the glue for the Lightning batting, with others batting around her. Last year she only bowled 19 overs in six games. She may be needed to bowl a few more this year.
Strengths/Weaknesses
A lot will be expected from the top four batsmen, which may restrict the way they play. Rebecca Grundy had a good KSL last year and she may be the key to the bowling attack.
Where will they finish?
5th

Southern Vipers
Squad
Charlotte Edwards ©
Tash Farrant, Danni Wyatt (England contracted)
Suzie Bates, Hayley Matthews, Mignon du Preez (Overseas)
Georgia Adams, Katie George, Linsey Smith, Ellen Burt (England Senior Academy)
Arran Brindle, Tara Norris, Izzy Collis, Carla Rudd, Charlie Dean (County)
Likely Line-Up
1. Bates, 2. Matthews, 3. Wyatt, 4. Edwards, 5. du Preez, 6. Brindle, 7. Adams, 8. Rudd, 9. Smith, 10. George, 11. Farrant
Key Player
Suzie Bates - She was the top run scorer and top wicket-taker for the Vipers last year and they will hope she can do the same this year.
Strengths/Weaknesses
Their other overseas players - They have lost Dane van Niekerk to injury, but Mignon du Preez has taken her place. She is not really a T20 specialist. Hayley Matthews has massive potential but is yet to show it to an English crowd.
Where will they finish?
4th

Surrey Stars
Squad
Nat Sciver ©, Tammy Beaumont, Laura Marsh, Alex Hartley (England contracted)
Marizanne Kapp, Harmanpreet Kaur, Lizelle Lee, Rene Farrell (Overseas)
Bryony Smith, Sophia Dunkley (England Senior Academy)
Grace Gibbs, Aylish Cranstone, Cordelia Griffith, Hannah Jones, Naomi Dattani, Kirstie White (County)
Likely Line-Up
1. Beaumont, 2. Smith, 3. Sciver, 4. Lee, 5. Kapp, 6. Dunkley, 7. Griffith, 8. Marsh, 9. Cranstone, 10. Farrell, 11. Hartley
Key Player
Nat Sciver - Currently in sublime form with the bat, she could win a game on her own.
Strengths/Weaknesses
Not much changed from last year (Lee in for Tahuhu), where they only managed to win 2/5, but the England girls are in form. Lizelle Lee is a late replacement for Kaur, who played for the Storm last year and can hit big, on her day. Bowling might be a bit weak?
Where will they finish?
1st 3rd 2nd

Western Storm
Squad
Heather Knight ©, Anya Shrubsole, Fran Wilson (England contracted)
Stafanie Taylor, Rachel Priest, Holly Huddleston (Overseas)
Freya Davies, Sophie Luff (England Senior Academy)
Georgia Hennessy, Jodie Dibble, Amara Carr, Alice Mcleod, Dani Gibson, Lauren Parfitt, Claire Thomas (County)
Likely Line-Up
1. Taylor, 2. Priest, 3. Knight, 4. Wilson, 5. Luff, 6. Hennessy, 7. Macleod, 8. Dibble, 9. Shrubsole, 10. Davies, 11. Huddleston
Key Player
Stafanie Taylor - Last year's player of the tournament for her 289 runs at an average of 57.8 and 11 wickets, the Storm will hope she is back in the same form this year.
Strengths/Weaknesses
Without Lizelle Lee back in the ranks the young middle order may need to show their mettle. Also now missing Shrubsole for at least the first two games, which are against last year's winner & semi-finalists.
Where will they finish?
3rd 2nd 3rd

Yorkshire Diamonds
Squad
Lauren Winfield ©, Katherine Brunt, Jenny Gunn (England contracted)
Sune Luus, Sophie Devine, Chamari Atapattu (Overseas)
Alice Davidson-Richards, Hollie Armitage (England Senior Academy)
Anna Nicholls, Katie Levick, Katie Thompson, Steph Butler, Laura Crofts, Teresa Graves, Maddie Walsh (County)
Likely Line-Up
1. Winfield, 2. Atapattu, 3. Devine, 4. Luus, 5. Davidson-Richards, 6. Brunt, 7. Gunn, 8. Butler, 9. Armitage, 10. Levick, 11. Crofts
Key Player
Sophie Devine - She has switched from Loughborough Lightning to the Diamonds this year and will be hoping that the move brings her more success in the KSL. Last year was disappointing with both bat and ball. Diamonds really need her to fire with both this year.
Strengths/Weaknesses
Losing Beth Mooney (keeper and opening bat) before even a ball has been bowled is far from ideal, but Chamari Atapattu is an interesting replacement. There could be some opportunities for some of the youngsters to shine, but it could be a tough KSL2 for them.
Where will they finish?
6th

MD
27/VII/17
updated 08/VIII/17

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

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