Kia Super League: Western Storm beat Yorkshire Diamonds as Rachel Priest hits 106o
Surrey Stars beat Southern Vipers in top-of-the-table clash
Monday 21 August 2017 11:28, UK
New Zealander Priest led the way with some fearsome hitting, albeit taking advantage of a bit of luck along the way as the Diamonds spilt a couple of boundary chances - she finished with 106 not out off 65 balls and Knight unbeaten on 48.
A second win from three matches puts Storm level on eight points with the Diamonds in third place with a game in hand in the race to reach Finals Day.
Home captain Lauren Winfield, batting in her home city, had earlier posted 58 off 44 balls as England's World Cup winning hero Anya Shrubsole returned to action following a side injury with 1-30 from four overs.
Priest reflected: "Not losing a wicket is pretty special, and it was nice for both me and Heather to lead from the front.
"We talked about this being a really big game for us. We needed to have a good win here and look towards the finals, although we have a couple of really important games coming up in the next week."
Reigning champions Southern Vipers lost their first game in this season's competition despite another impressive innings by Suzie Bates.
The New Zealander has yet to be dismissed in the tournament after making an unbeaten 50 to add to earlier scores of 47 and 119.
But Vipers' pursuit of a target of 128 against Surrey Stars at the Ageas Bowl stalled when they lost four wickets for one run having reached 78-3 in the 13th over.
Rain forced the players off after 16.2 overs with Vipers 100-7 as Stars won by four runs under Duckworth/Lewis to claim their third straight win and virtually seal their place in finals day at Hove on September 1.
Southern Vipers captain Charlotte Edwards said: "It's disappointing that we had to come off for rain because if we'd managed to stay out Suzie (Bates) might have seen us home but I could understand the umpires, the rain had got pretty bad but it spoiled an exciting finish."
It keeps alive the Lightning's hopes of making finals day. It was a third successive defeat for the Thunder and eliminates them from the competition after another collapse when chasing left them well short of the required 141-run target.
Player of the match Perry reflected: "I felt pretty responsible for the results in the last couple of games and haven't taken enough ownership when I went in to bat. I was pleased to do that today. Everyone was a part of it today and everyone really contributed."
