Key Performers :
Batting –
1. Hayley Matthews ( LL) – Opening the Innings for Loughborough, Caribbean All-rounder played a terrific Innings of 54 including 8 fours and 1 Six. Which helped LL to reach the target with ease.
2. Chamari Athapathu – Srilanka Allrounder played a sensible Innings of 40 including 5 fours and 1 sixes. She had a good partnership of 78 with Matthews.
Bowling –
1) Kirstie Gordon- England Seamer bowled an economical spell of 2/ 28 in 4 overs Which restricted Yorkshire Diamonds to end on 121/6 in 20 overs.
Summary:
Georgia Elwiss, skipper of Loughborough Lightning on winning the toss decided to bowl on a slow Pitch. Loughborough made one change to the team with bowling allrounder Kathryn Bryce replaced Lucy Higham. On the other side, Yorkshire Diamonds made no changes to their squad.
Australian dashing player Alyssa Healy opened the Innings for Diamonds but failed to make an impact as she was cleaned up by Matthews on 5. Her partner, Skipper Winfield was dead plumb by Kathryn Bryce on 9. Armitage and our own Jemimah took the responsibility of building the Innings for Diamonds. They had a partnership of 32 before she was caught and bowled in the bowling of Gordon.
With the departure of Rodrigues on 20, Armitage followed her partner scoring 23 and got out to the same bowler Gordon. Later, Georgia Elwiss the skipper chipped in with a Wicket of Griffith. Diamonds were struggling at 94 for 5. The allrounder Alice Davidson Richards played a sensible knock of 27 to help Diamonds reach a moderate total of 121 for 6 in 20 overs.
On Chasing this target, Hayley Matthews and Amy Jones started the proceedings with the bat for Loughborough. Amy Jones was caught out on the bowling of spinner Smith after scoring a Six. From then it was Matthews and Athapathu played an excellent inning without losing a Wicket, Matthews scored a 54 not out and Athapathu scored 40 not out.
The duo had a partnership of 78, which helped Loughborough to reach the target in 13.2 overs, which also helped to increase their NRR too. Hayley Matthews was declared Women of the Match because of her excellent performance with both bat and ball.
In the end, it was another defeat to Yorkshire Diamonds, the tough time in KSL continues for them. Hope, they will make a strong comeback in the next match.
Brief Scores: Yorkshire Diamonds 121/6 ( Alice Richards 27, 2/28 Gordon) lost to
Loughborough Lightning 122/ 1 in 13.2 overs ( Matthews 54, Smith 1/8)