Lightning miss out on top spot

Loughborough Lightning missed the opportunity to top the Kia Super League - and secure a place in the final - after defeat to Southern Vipers by 59 runs.

The result means that Lightning will now play Western Storm in the Finals Day at Chelmsford next Sunday, with the winner playing Vipers for the crown of Kia Super League Champions.

Vipers won the toss and chose to bat at the Ageas Bowl. New Zealand international Suzie Bates imposed herself on the Lightning attack with three boundaries off Beth Langston in the second over, and the hosts went on to take 16 runs off Dane van Niekerk.

With Charlotte Edwards scoring a four off Ellyse Perry’s first ball Vipers were in control at 49-0 after five overs. But Sophie Devine made an immediate impact trapping Edwards lbw for 10.

Georgia Adams countered with two boundaries off Devine to put Vipers on 57-1 after the powerplay.

Becky Grundy and Sonia Odedra managed to stem the flow of runs.  Odedra made the vital breakthrough claiming the prized wicket of Bates for 38, caught by Thea Brookes.

Lightning were now in control and with Grundy removing Adams for 17, Vipers had lost their momentum at 102-3 after 14 overs. But Vipers managed to wrestle back the initiative with McGlashan and Greenway starting to find their range.

Grundy bowled Greenway (29) in the penultimate over, but a quickfire 8 runs off 3 balls from Arran Brindle gave the Vipers 156-4.

In reply Lightning started brightly with Eve Jones, promoted up the order to open, racing to 23 after four overs with four boundaries. However there was to be no repeat performance from van Niekerk after her record-breaking 91 against Surrey Stars. 

Vipers’ Linsey Smith bowled van Niekerk (2) and Sophie Devine (0) in the fifth over and then trapped Eve Jones lbw (33) in the seventh to leave Lightning struggling on 40-3.

Perry and Amy Jones looked to build a partnership, but tight bowling from Smith and Nielsen tightened the Vipers’ grip on the match.

The pressure didn’t let up with Amy Jones bowled by Brindle for 11, and Lightning were 52-3 at the halfway mark. Chasing the runs Georgia Elwiss, Odedra and Brookes all fell cheaply.

Perry gave Lightning hope, hitting two fours off George. But in the 17^th over Perry was caught on the boundary by Bates for 35.

Bates then claimed the final wickets of Paige Scholfied and Langston to give Vipers the victory and top spot in the Kia Super League.

The result confirmed that Lightning will play Western Storm on Finals Day, with the winner meeting the Vipers in the final.

Speaking after the match Perry said: “We were a bit off today but I think you have those games every now and then in tournaments.  The really good thing is we’ve got it out of the way before the finals.

“All in all it’s been a really good first five games for us, but we can learn a lot and improve which is a positive.”