Top performers:
1) Deepti Sharma – The youngster from India playing her debut season in Kia Super League shines with an all-round performance to help Western Storm to continue their winning streak. She had an excellent outing with both bat and ball. Initially, with the bat, she scored her highest score of KSL which is 32. On the other side with the ball, she picked up 3 very important wickets of Dane Vane Niekerk, Natalie Sciver, and Marizanne Kapp which turned the game in favor of Storm.
Sharmaji ki beti ne aaj kamaal kar diya! 😀
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) August 21, 2019
An excellent all-round display by @WesternStormKSL's Deepti Sharma!
And that's 8 on 8 for Western Storm. #KSL2019 #DeeptiSharma pic.twitter.com/z2S52vCerm
2) Sarah Taylor – Coming back from some health issues, English wicket-keeper played a gem of an inning. She scored a terrific 73 of 54 balls including 11 boundaries. It was a class act by Sarah Taylor. Sadly, her innings went in vain as they went short by 4 runs.
Sarah Taylor half-century in vain as Western Storm clinch another thriller against Surrey Stars.
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) August 21, 2019
Western Storm: 159/8 (20)
Surrey Stars: 155/8 (20 ov, target 160)#KSL2019 #KSL #SarahTaylor pic.twitter.com/piNNlFenwU
Match Summary:
As Deepti Sharma shines with an all-round performance, Western Storm won the match against Surrey Stars by 4 runs at Taunton on Wednesday.
On winning the toss, Surrey Skipper Natalie Sciver opted to field on a pitch that assisted both. Opening the innings for Storm. Mandhana was out for a duck. Her partner, Veteran keeper Rachel Priest played a lightning inning of 44 runs in just 16 balls with 3 boundaries and 5 huge sixes. It was clean hitting from the kiwi’s batter. She lost her wicket after an excellent cameo in the 5th over. Later the cameos of Sophie Luff and Deepti Sharma made Storm end their inning with 159 on the board. With the bowl, though being expensive, Sciver picked up 3 wickets by giving 37 runs in 4 overs. All the other bowlers chipped in with a wicket each.
On Chasing the target, Stars who did not have a great start with opening pair of Lee and Smith in this season, they came up with a new combination of Proteas Skipper Dane Vane Niekerk opening with her fellow countrywomen Lee.
But this move also backfired as both the batters departed for a Duck. Vane Niekerk was cleaned up by Deepti Sharma and Lee by Nicholas. Stars were in serious trouble with 16 for 2. Coming in next, the experienced duo of Sarah Taylor and Sciver both used their experience and had a partnership of 70. Later, Sciver was dismissed by Deepti. Joining next the proteas allrounder Kapp played a decent inning of 23 runs.
On the other side, Sarah Taylor played her best inning in recent times, consisting of 73 runs in 54 balls including 11 boundaries. With Taylor in the crease, Stars were in the driving seat. But, Taylor got out at 73 failing to finish the innings, which made her brilliant innings to go in vain. The last hope for Stars was the African All-rounder Kapp. Sadly for Stars, India’s young Allrounder Deepti Sharma got the wicket of Kapp at a very crucial junction of the match, which turned the match in favor of Western Storm. Stars required 11 runs in the last over, it was the most experienced bowler Shrubsole took the responsibility of defending it and she successfully did it by giving just 7 runs and picking up two wickets. Stars lost their momentum with the wicket of Taylor, they fell apart from 136 for 5 to 155 for 8, which made them lose the game by 4 runs.
On the whole, it was the 8th consecutive win for Western Storm in this year’s KSL. For Indian fans, it was great to see the young girl Deepti Sharma from Uttar Pradesh shining in one of the best t20 leagues around the world. With this win, the hopes of the defending champions defending the title look almost impossible. Whereas the Western Storm continues with full of confidence entering the finals day of Kia Super League.
Brief Score: Western Storm 159 for 8 ( Priest 44, Sciver 3 for 37) defeated Surrey Stars 155 for 8 ( Sarah Taylor 73, Deepti Sharma 3 for 18) by 4 runs
