KSL 2019 Preview: Western Storm v Yorkshire Diamonds
THE MATCH
Western Storm will be looking to make it 10 wins from 10 matches in this year’s KIA Super League when we welcome Yorkshire Diamonds to the Cooper Associates County Ground tomorrow (Wednesday).
Storm are currently top of the KIA Super League table with 39 points from our nine matches whilst Diamonds are fourth with 16 points from the same number of matches.
Tickets for this match are still available at a cost of just £5 for adults and £1 for under 18s.
Gates open at 4:30pm with play due to get underway at 6:30pm.
To celebrate everything that Western Storm have achieved over the last four years and to mark the end of the KIA Super League a special post-match presentation event will take place with players and staff on the outfield. Spectators are invited to stay and watch the presentations after the match.
Make sure you don’t miss out on this final chance to see Western Storm in action at the Cooper Associates County Ground!
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 on five occasions with Western Storm coming out on top each time.
The last time the sides met was at Clifton Park, York earlier this month when Western Storm won by nine wickets.
Storm won the toss and elected to field.
Hollie Armitage top scored for the home side with 59 as the Diamonds posted a score of 151 for nine from their 20 overs.
Western Storm’s Sophie Luff made headlines after securing now fewer than four run outs.
Chasing 152 for victory, openers Rachel Priest and Smriti Mandhana gave Storm a dream start and shared a stand of 133.
Mandhana was the player to fall for 70 from just 47 balls. Priest remained unbeaten on 72 from 43 as Storm eased to victory.
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: “To make it ten out of ten would be an incredible achievement. It’s been a really good season for us so far. We’ve played some really good cricket which I hope people have enjoyed watching.
“We’ve had different people performing in each game which has been great and we seem to have found a formula that works. That’s built confidence within the group and now we just need to make sure that we can keep it going. Winning ten out of ten would eventually mean nothing if we don’t win in the final, so we have to just keep winning and keep performing well.
“We’ve got the chance to go unbeaten at Taunton for the whole four years of the KSL and that would also be a remarkable achievement.
“Everyone has really played their part this year, and having so many options as a captain has been lovely. There’s a really good feeling around the group and I think we’ve built something really special over the last few years. It’s been really exciting to be a part of this and hopefully we can finish on a real high, firstly at Taunton on Wednesday and then in the final on Sunday.
“We get amazing support, especially down here in the West Country. We easily get the best support in the country and we love playing in Taunton. It’ll be our first time under lights here and hopefully we can put on a good show. It would be great to be able to remain unbeaten at fortress Taunton!”
FOOD AND DRINK
The bar in Stragglers Coffee House will be open whilst food will be available from Stragglers Coffee House and The Great Catch Fish & Chip Bar in the Sir Ian Botham Stand.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
All the information that you need about traveling to this match can be found by clicking here
