Trevor and Heather delighted by perfect start

Western Storm Head Coach, Trevor Griffin was delighted that his side got the defence of their KIA Super League title off to the perfect start yesterday with a stunning seven wicket win over Yorkshire Diamonds.

Heather Knight and Smriti Mandhana took the majority of the plaudits but Trevor felt that the win was a real team effort.

“Heather and Smriti were outstanding with the bat,” he said. “That’s the best innings I’ve seen Heather play for Western Storm. She complemented Smriti really well at the start of their partnership and then really accelerated her own game when she needed to. I was really impressed with the bowlers too. They stuck to our plans really well on what was a batting friendly wicket and our fielding was excellent throughout. You can’t really ask any more of the players after they’ve chased down 162 inside 16 overs!”

Heather Knight, who made a superb 97 to lead her side to victory was also impressed with how the team played. “It was a great team performance on a brilliant pitch and the girls played really well,” she said. “We didn’t start well last year so to start like that this year is really pleasing. A few of the girls felt that we’d let them get too many but I was really pleased that we restricted them to 162 on that wicket. Freya Davies bowled brilliantly, as the new girls did as well.

“Obviously it was a blow to lose Rachel early on, but it meant that I got to have a bat in the powerplay which I don’t usually get to do! I was playing second fiddle to Smriti at the start because she was hitting the ball so cleanly. Unfortunately I wasn’t quite there to finish it off but I’m delighted that we got the win.”

Western Storm are back in action again on Thursday when they take on Surrey Stars at Cheltenham on Thursday. Tickets for this match are still available and can be purchased by clicking here