The eventual top three of the 2019 Kia Super League has been decided and the last round-robin match for each team will be a mere formality. Western Storm has ended up topping the table winning 9 out of the 10 matches that they have played securing 39 points. Loughborough Lightning is in second place, winning 7 of their 10 matches to notch up 32 points while Southern Vipers round up the top three with 4 wins from their 10 matches and securing 22 points.
This means that the three teams – Western Storm, Loughborough Lightning, and Southern Vipers – will battle it out to be the last winners of the trophy (The women’s edition of The Hundred is scheduled to replace the Kia Super League next year onwards). Western Storm will directly qualify for the finals and will play against the winners of the semi-finals between Loughborough Lightning and Southern Vipers after their match. Both these matches will take place at Hove on 1st September 2019.
The tournament has already seen players in top form, performing consistently and winning games for their side. In this article, we look at the players from Loughborough Lightning who are expected to make or break the fortunes of their side on Finals Day.
LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING: 4 PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR
Amy Jones: England’s current wicket-keeper has been as successful in this season as she has been in limited-overs cricket. In her 10 innings, she has scored 300 runs and is currently fifth place in this season’s run charts. She has scored 3 half-centuries including an unbeaten 74 in her last match which lifted her team to a match-winning score. That knock would give her a lot of confidence going into the Finals Day. She has also been involved in 7 dismissals behind the stumps by claiming 2 catches and 5 stumpings.
Mignon du Preez: A very reliable South African middle-order player, Mignon du Preez has had a decent outing this season. She is the second-highest run-scorer for her team this year amassing 246 runs from 8 instances where she batted. Her innings of note have been an unbeaten 70 which was scored against Surrey Stars. The top order was dismissed quickly but Mignon du Preez hung in there and won the game for her team.
Sarah Glenn: With 10 wickets in 10 matches, Sarah Glenn occupies a very important place in Loughborough’s bowling attack. She has conceded 18 runs per wicket in this season and has, on an average, taken a wicket every 3 overs. She is the joint-highest wicket-taker for Loughborough in this edition. She took 3 wickets conceding 25 runs against Lancashire Thunder helping her side keep them to a below-par total which was successfully chased down.
Kirstie Gordon: The talented English spinner, Kirstie Gordon has been as dependable a bowler for Loughborough Lightning as Sarah Glenn. She is the joint-highest wicket-taker for her side in this season, taking 10 wickets in 9 matches, conceding 20 runs per wicket and taking a wicket off every 20 balls on an average. She took 3 wickets off 18 balls against Lancashire Thunder to defend their total successfully.