KSL 2019 Preview: Western Storm v Loughborough Lightning

THE MATCH

Western Storm take on Loughborough Lightning in the KSL at the Bristol County Ground tomorrow (Tuesday).

Western Storm currently have 12 points from their three matches whilst Loughborough Lightning have five from their three games.

The match gets underway at 2:30pm with gates opening at 12:30pm.

This match is part of a Double Header with Gloucestershire taking on Hampshire in the Vitality Blast at 6:30pm.

Tickets are still available and can be purchased here

HOW CAN I KEEP UP TO DATE?

You can keep up to date with the action Twitter

The match is also being shown live on Sky Sports Cricket with coverage starting at 2pm.

In addition to this a report on the day’s play along with quotes will be posted after the close.

HEAD TO HEAD

The two teams have met on six occasions with Western Storm claiming four wins to Loughborough Lightning’s two.

When the two sides met in the season opener it was Western Storm who came out on top by seven wickets.

Lightning won the toss and elected to bat on their home pitch.

However, impressive bowling from Western Storm saw the home side slip to 15 for three. However, Amy Jones steadied the ship and went on to make 65 from 53 balls.

The visiting bowlers continued to turn the screw and Loughborough were eventually restricted to 125 for six from their allotted overs. Freya Davies finished with two for 24 whilst Claire Nicholas also claimed two wickets.

A rapid 32 from Smriti Mandhana got the Western Storm reply off to a good start before Heather Knight (41) and Fran Wilson (33 not out) saw their side over the line with 18 balls to spare.

TEAM NEWS

Western Storm will be without injured duo Amara Carr and Danielle Gibson.

Head Coach, Trevor Griffin will name the starting XI from the follwoing squad: Heather Knight (c), Anya Shrubsole, Fran Wilson, Smriti Mandhana, Rachel Priest, Deepti Sharma, Freya Davies, Sophie Luff, Claire Nicholas, Sonia Odedra, Naomi Dattani, Ellie Mitchell, Alex Griffiths and Nat Wraith.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Ahead of the match Western Storm Captain, Heather Knight said: “Obviously we’re delighted to have won our opening three games, but we are certainly not getting complacent. The KSL is such a tough competition and every team is full of quality players. The nature of T20 cricket means that a game can change in a second and we have to continue to make sure that we are at the very top of our game.

“Loughborough Lightning showed how good they are this weekend by comprehensively winning at Yorkshire Diamonds, so we need to make sure that we execute our skills on the day.

“The players are looking forward to playing in Bristol as part of Gloucestershire’s double header. We love playing in front of big crowds in the West Country and hopefully we can give the local fans something to cheer about.”

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

All the information that you need about this match can be found by clicking here