KIA Super League Preview: Loughborough Lightning v Western Storm

THE MATCH

Western Storm are back in KIA Super League action when we travel to Edgbaston to play Loughborough Lightning tomorrow (Wednesday).

The match is due to start at 3:00pm.

HOW CAN I KEEP UP TO DATE?

You can keep up to date with the action Twitter

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 sides have met four times since the KSL was launched with Western Storm having won three times and Loughborough Lightning winning once.

The last time the two sides met was at the end of July at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.

Wet weather meant that the match was reduced to six overs per side and after winning the toss Lightning captain Georgia Elwiss elected to field.

Rachel Priest and Smriti Mandhana added 71 for the opening wicket before Priest 25 off 13) was caught by Amy Jones off the bowling of Elwiss.

Jones then stumped Heather Knight without addition to the Storm score to leave the hosts on 71 for two in the sixth over.

Mandhana went on to make a stunning 52 not out from just 19 balls as Storm posted a total of 85 for two from their six overs.

Needing 86 for victory, Lightning opener Sophie Devine set about the task with a flourish but even her efforts (46 not out from 21 balls) were in vane as the Storm bowlers restricted their opponents to 67 without loss as Storm won by 18 runs.

TEAM NEWS

Head Coach, Trevor Griffin will pick the starting XI from the following squad:

Heather Knight, Anya Shrubsole, Fran Wilson, Stafanie Taylor, Smriti Mandhana, Rachel Priest, Sophie Luff, Freya Davies, Claire Nicholas, Lauren Parfitt, Danielle Gibson, Lissy McLeod, Amara Carr, Naomi Dattani and Rebecca Silk.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Ahead of the match Western Storm Head Coach, Trevor Griffin said: “At the start of the tournament the first objective was to qualify for finals day, the second was to top the group and therefor go straight through to the final, and third was to win the trophy. We have achieved objective one and now we turn our attention to objective two.

“Loughborough will be a really tough game for us but there certainly won’t be any complacency in our camp after making it to finals day. They have a strong bowling attack with two of the best left-arm spinners in the country at the moment in Linsey Smith and Kirstie Gordon. Elyse Villani is also a destructive batter and we’ve seen a number of times that she can take a team apart.

“We certainly won’t be taking them lightly and we will be determined to finish the job off in terms of topping the group.”

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

If you are planning to attend this match you can find out everything that you need to know by clicking here