Top Performers:
1) Mignon Du Preez- The Pocket dynamo from South Africa continues to rock with the bat in the Kia Super League 2019. Her blistering innings of 48 in just 25 balls helped Lightning to secure a win by 5 wickets over Surrey Stars.
2) Chamari Athapaththu- Sri-Lanka Allrounder finally back to form laid a strong foundation in the chase. Her 45 runs helped Loughborough to chase the target of 148 in 18.3 overs.
3) Sarah Taylor and Sciver – Though, Surrey Stars are going through a rough patch. Sarah and Sciver continued to perform well with the bat, both scored Half-centuries 51 and 53 respectively.
Match Summary:
The Dynamic innings from Mignon Du Preez helped Loughborough Lightning defeat Surrey Stars by 5 wickets at Loughborough on Friday.
Stars on winning the toss opted to bat, the new opening pair of Lizelle Lee and Dane Vane Niekerk failed again to give a good start. First, it was Lee who got out for a golden duck, she was trapped plumb by Bryce on the very first ball of the match. The other opener Niekerk failed to contribute big as she got out for 11. At the end of the power play, Stars were struggling at 29 for 2. The duo of Sarah and Sciver tried their best to help Surrey to set a good total, they had a partnership of 93 runs. Sciver got out after scoring a Half-century, her innings of 53 included 8 boundaries.
On another side, Sarah Taylor scored her second fifty in a row, her innings of 51 included 7 boundaries. Sadly, both got out in the wrong situation. They failed to convert their good innings to great innings. In the end, a cameo from Smith helped Surrey Stars to reach a moderate total of 147 in 20 overs. Senior pro-Jenny Gunn and Kathryn Bryce were the best of the bowlers for Loughborough Lightning with two wickets each.
Chasing the target of 148, even Loughborough did not have a great of the starts, English Keeper Amy Jones was dismissed for 1 because of brilliance in the field by Dane Van Niekerk. Hayley Matthews at the other end scored 23 before she was stumped in the bowling of Off-spinner Mady Villiers. At the end of the power play, Loughborough was struggling at 40 for 2. Sri Lankan skipper Chamari and Lightning Skipper Elwiss had a Partnership of 49 which gave a solid foundation for others in the chase. Skipper Elwiss was dismissed stumped on 18 trying to hit a leggie out of the park.
With the skipper departing, the pocket dynamo from Africa, Mignon Du Preez joined in the middle with Athapaththu. The southpaw was dismissed on 45 by Marsh.on the other side, Du Preez was aggressive from ball number one, she played a dynamic inning of 48 not out in just 25 balls including 3 fours and 4 sixes which helped Loughborough to reach the target with ease in 18.3 overs. With the ball Essex bowler, Mady Villiers bowled an economical spell of 1 for 6 in 3 overs. But, in the end, they failed to restrict Loughborough from chasing the score.
With this win, Loughborough Lightning Jump to the second position on the points table. The defending champions Surrey Stars are almost out of the tournament with the defeat.
As the tournament progresses to the last two rounds of the tournament. Competition for Second and Third positions has become exciting and interesting.
Brief score: Surrey Stars 147/7 ( Sciver 53, Gunn 2 for 19 ) lost to Loughborough Lightning 150/5 ( Du Preez 48, Villiers 1 for 6) by 5 wickets.