Storm slip up against Lightning; Vipers beat Thunder
Thursday 2 April 2020 12:24, UK
Heather Knight's 74 from 46 balls came in vain as Western Storm slipped to a five-run defeat to Loughborough Lightning in the Kia Super League.
Knight drilled nine fours and a six during a sparkling innings but her run out from the final ball of the penultimate over, at the hands of England team-mate Georgia Elwiss, proved pivotal.
Storm were only able to score 11 of the 17 runs required from Ellyse Perry's final over as they finished on 153-5 in reply to Lightning's 158-8 at Haselgrave Ground.
Perry (44) and Amy Jones (46) did the brunt of the work during Loughborough's knock, putting on 83 for the fourth wicket, although Evelyn Jones impressed down the order with 25 off 14 balls.
Knight bowled neatly, taking 1-17 from her four overs, but exploded when she came out to bat at No 3 - Storm's skipper dominating an 83-run stand with Fran Wilson (21) for the third wicket.
Perry held her nerve after Knight's exit, though, despite being hit for four from the first ball of the final over, as Loughborough secured their second win of the campaign and subjected Storm to their first loss.
Elsewhere, New Zealand internationals Sara McGlashan and Morna Nielsen lifted Southern Vipers to back-to-back wins by starring in an 11-run victory over Lancashire Thunder.
McGlashan thrashed an unbeaten 54 from 50 balls as the visitors - shorn of injured captain Charlotte Edwards and Fi Morris - posted 132-4 in Blackpool.
Nielsen (2-16) then claimed two wickets and a run out to restrict Thunder to 121-7 and ensure Vipers followed their opening-day success over Surrey Stars with another triumph.
McGlashan clubbed five fours and a six while putting on an unbroken 70 from 53 balls with former England player Arran Brindle (29no) for Vipers' fifth wicket after they had slipped to 62-4.
Hayley Matthews (2-16) proved the most economical Thunder bowler, the West Indies off-spinner bowling 15 dot balls in her four overs as well as dismissing stand-in skipper Suzie Bates (15) and Georgia Adams (0).
Matthews lasted just four deliveries while batting, the 18-year-old caught for a duck by Brindle off Nielsen, leaving Emma Lamb (34) and captain Amy Satterthwaite (31) to share a stand of 57.
However, once Satterthwaite was caught by countrywoman McGlashan, Nielsen stalled the run chase further by running out Lamb and dismissing the dangerous Deandra Dottin (5).
Danielle Wyatt cracked a 22-ball 29 but Vipers bowler Bates struck twice in the final over as Thunder slipped to their second defeat in three games.
