Top performers –
1) Mignon du Preez: Proteas batter continued to have excellent KSL. the last match being the top scorer for her team, Du Preez scored an unbeaten 70 of just 43 balls which helped Loughborough to seal the game.
2) Kathryn Bryce: Before the lightning innings of Du Preez, it was a medium-fast bowler from Edinburgh who continued to impress with bowling, bowled an excellent spell of 2/16 in 4 overs. Which kept Surrey stars under 130.
3) Hayley Matthews: Caribbean Allrounder failed with the bat this season continued to bowl well with her off-spinners and variations. She got the key wickets of Lizelle Lee and Surrey Skipper Natalie Sciver. Which put other batters in pressure. Matthews ended her economic spell with the figures of 2/12 in 4 overs with an economy rate of 3.
Summary:
Lightning innings from Mignon du Preez helped Loughborough lightning to win by 7 wickets against defending champions on Thursday.
On winning the toss, Loughborough skipper Elwiss elected to field. Lizelle Lee and Smith opened the innings for Stars. They had a good start of 38 runs. It was all set up for a big score again from stars. But the senior pro, Jenny Gunn ended up the partnership by dismissing Smith for 14. Following her, Lee departed in the next over on the bowling of Matthews. With the fall of these two wickets, the collapse started for Surrey stars. Though Sciver and Vane Niekerk tried to build the innings couldn’t create much impact. Kathryn Bryce and Matthews were the picks of the bowlers from lightning which restricted stars to 120 for 7 in 20 overs.
Chasing the target of 120, Loughborough didn’t have a great start, Matthews who was impressed with the ball failed with the bat. Amy Jones another opener failed to score big and she was out for 7 by Kapp. Loughborough was in huge trouble at 13 for 2, then came Proteas dynamic player Mignon du Preez who started with a bang, on the other side Athapathu failed again with the bat. At 31 for 3, Skipper Elwiss joined Du Preez who was looking in great touch. Du Preez smashed all over the park with an innings of 70 in just 41 balls which included 11 boundaries. Her partner Georgia Elwiss supported her well at the other end by scoring 34 in 27 balls. The partnership of 92 between them helped to chase a moderate total of 120 in 14.5 overs.
With this win, Loughborough is placed 4th in the points table and Surrey stars dropped down to 3rd position. As the finals day is nearing it will be interesting to see who will qualify for finals day.
Brief score: Stars 120/7 ( Lee 25, Matthews 2/12 ) lost to Lightning 123 /3 ( Du Preez 70, Elwiss 34 ).