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