Top Performers :
1) Llizelle Lee – The Proteas batter who is well known for her aggressive batting, finally scored a half-century in the final match of the season. Before this, she had a disastrous KSL, anyway, she ended the season with a blistering knock off 75 runs in just 28 balls including 13 fours and 3 sixes. Sadly, this innings may help her improve Stats but definitely will not do anything to the team as they are out of the tournament.
2) Natalie Sciver – Surrey Stars Captain decided to open as the other two opening pairs failed. She played an excellent inning of 50 in 26 balls including 6 fours and 3 sixes. She has been the most consistent performer for Stars this season.
3) Hannah Jones – The 20-year-old from Surrey picked 3 wickets in the match, which turned the match in favor of Stars.
Summary:
The Blistering innings from Lizelle Lee helped Surrey Stars to win against Lancashire Thunder in a rain-affected dead rubber match by 35 runs at Blackpool on Wednesday.
With the rain, the game was shortened to a 9 over the contest, on winning the toss, Thunder Skipper opted to bowl. Surrey Stars changed their opening pair for the third time of the season and finally, they had a successful one, which gave them a great partnership of 127 runs in just 8.4 overs. Lee and Sciver were the new batting pair, Both the batters Lee and Sciver scored half-centuries in their first outing as openers.
Lee completely dominated the partnership with a score of 75 in just 28 balls, she was completely into her zone smashing all over the park. She was equally well supported by Natalie Sciver scoring 50 not out in 26 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes. Stars, in the end, scored 132 runs in 9 overs with the loss of 1 wicket.
Chasing the target of 133, Lancashire Thunder were never in the game, they kept on losing wickets at regular intervals, it was only the Australian Allrounder McGrath who played a cameo of 41 runs, rest other batters did not score much. with the bowl for Stars, it was Hannah Jones who did most of the damage for Thunder, she picked up 3 wickets by conceding 24 runs, she was well supported by Smith, who put a brake on Thunder from chasing the target. Thunder ended their innings on 97 for 7 in 9 overs. Which made them remain winless in this season.
On the whole, though Stars won the match, it was a dead rubber and both the teams had a terrible season, hope they come back stronger next year.
Brief Score: Surrey Stars 132 for 1 in 9 overs ( Lee 75, Sciver 50 and Cross 1 for 42) defeated Lancashire Thunder 97 for 7 in 9 overs (McGrath 41 and Hannah Jones 3 for 24) by 35 runs. (Match reduced to nine overs per side due to rain).