Brief Scores:
Lancashire Thunder – 120/7 in 20 overs (H Kaur – 58*, D Van Niekerk – 3/20)
Surrey Stars – 124/2 in 14.2 overs (L Lee – 66, S. Taylor – 36*)
Key Performers:
- Harmanpreet Kaur (Lancashire Thunder) scored 58 not out in 47 balls hitting 6 fours and 3 sixes as the other batters failed around her.
- Dane Van Niekerk (Surrey Stars) conceded just 20 runs from her 4 overs while picking up 3 wickets.
- Lizelle Lee (Surrey Stars) made a short work of the target scoring 66 runs in 45 balls smacking 7 fours and 3 sixes.
Vintage #Harmanpreet is back with her 1st Half-Century of the #KSL2019 for @LancsCricketWMN. 🙂 pic.twitter.com/jJMoYNHe4d
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) August 8, 2019
Having already got a win under their belt, Surrey Stars were looking to consolidate their position as they faced Lancashire Thunder who had lost their first game. The match was to be played at Guildford.
Surrey Stars won the toss and elected to field first. Lancashire Thunder’s innings did not get off to a bright start with Sune Luus castled by her national counterpart, Marizanne Kapp for just 4 runs. The other opener, Geogie Boyce was out next as Dane van Niekerk took a smart catch to dismiss her off the bowling of Mady Villiers.
Dane van Niekerk also accounted for Sophia Dunkley who was caught plumb in front of the wicket for 12. Nat Sciver dismissed Tahlia McGrath for 10 runs as Lancashire Thunder collapsed to 37/4 in the ninth over. Emma Lamb joined Harmanpreet Kaur as they added another 37 runs before Lamb was dismissed by Laura Marsh for 12. Sophie Ecclestone and Elanor Threlkeld both fell cheaply to Dane van Niekerk to leave them 75/7 in their 17th over.
With Lancashire needing something special to get to a respectable total, our very own Harmanpreet Kaur, did what she is known for. She was just on 25 off 36 balls at the end of the 17th over. In the last three overs, she decided to give it a go. She skipped out to Laura Marsh in the fifth ball of the next over to score a boundary. The very next ball, she pummeled a six as Lancashire collected 12 runs from the over. The next over, bowled by the dangerous Dane Van Niekerk, she stepped out of her crease again to hit a six in the second ball itself.
Evelyn Jones competed a couple of twos and the other end to collect another 12 from the over and bring up 100 runs for Lancashire. Harmanpreet Kaur went berserk in the final over bowled by Sciver. She hit the very first ball of the over for four runs and brought up her half-century in style by hitting a six of the third. Not seeming satisfied, she scored another boundary off the next ball as the pair plundered 20 runs in the last over to end up with 120/7 in their 20 overs. Their partnership of 45 runs took just 20 balls as Harmanpreet Kaur remained unbeaten on 58 runs off only 47 balls. For Surrey Stars, Dane van Niekerk took 3 wickets while conceding only 20 runs from her quota of four overs.
In reply, Surrey Stars lost Bryony Smith early, dismissed by Emma Lamb for just 4 runs. However, Lizelle Lee and Sarah Tayor kept Surrey in cruise control as they brought up 50 runs for their side in only the seventh over of the innings. Both of them were able to found at least a boundary in each over to keep the scoreboard moving at a rapid rate. Lizelle Lee brought up her half-century in only 32 balls by hitting a four off the bowling of Sophia Dunkley.
At the halfway stage, there was really no doubt as to who would end up winning as Surrey reached 85/1 requiring just 36 runs from the remaining 10 overs. They brought up a century partnership a little later in the 12th over of the innings. Lizelle Lee tried out hit out Alex Hartley next over but got out caught by Sune Luus for 66 runs off only 45 balls. She had hit as many as 7 boundaries and 3 sixes. With only 13 more to get, Nat Sciver joined Sarah Taylor and knocked off the remaining runs with just under 5 overs to spare. Sarah Taylor remained unbeaten 36 off 27 balls scoring 7 boundaries.
Player of the Match : Lizelle Lee for her 66 runs off only 45 balls.
With a comprehensive victory of 8 wickets, Surrey Stars collected a bonus point in addition to the four points for the win. This has brought them to 9 points from their two matches. They next play Sothern Vipers, who are also in a red-hot form, on Monday which appears to be an exciting game of cricket. Lancashire Thunder, meanwhile, are yet to open their account, losing both the games so far. They next play Western Storm on Sunday, hoping to get their first win of the season.
Tune in to Female Cricket for the latest match updates for Kia Super League 2019.