Lightning weather the Storm!

Loughborough Lightning claimed their first victory at the Haselgrave Ground in the Kia Super League, defeating Western Storm by five runs thanks to a fine all-round performance.

Lightning posted 158-5 and the visitors were set a platform as England captain Heather Knight shone with 74 off 46 balls - the highest competition score to date - but the hosts ultimately weathered the Storm.

Knight was run out by Georgia Elwiss in the penultimate over and Ellyse Perry sealed the victory by some fine bowling at the death.

Lightning won the toss for the third match in a row and elected to bat. Captain Elwiss hit a four down the ground to state her intention, before being stumped. But Dane van Niekerk attacked, scoring three boundaries to take Lightning to 22-1 off two overs.

Storm brought on University alumna Anya Shrubsole and England captain Heather Knight to tighten up the scoring, with Knight taking the wicket of Sophie Devine for 1.

Van Niekerk hit a big four before being bowled out by Shrubsole for 18, and with Lightning on 33-3 after the end of the powerplay they needed a boost

Perry and Amy Jones provided it with an 83-run partnership, and some fine strokes put Lightning on top. In the fifteenth over a cover drive took Jones to 46, but next ball was stumped by Rachel Priest off the bowling of Freya Davies.

Paige Scholfield was moved up the order after her heroics against Lancashire Thunder on Wednesday. But there was to be no repeat after a shout for lbw and a mix-up saw her run out.

Perry looked to build the momentum and struck two fours off the bowling of Stafanie Taylor, but on 44 a big hit through mid-wicket was caught on the boundary by Lizelle Lee.

But a quickfire 25 from 14 balls from Eve Jones, including three successive fours, put Lightning in a strong position finishing on 158-8.

At the start of Storm’s reply  Elwiss rotated the bowlers to stem the runs in the powerplay, and in the fourth over van Niekerk made the breakthrough, bowling Stafanie Taylor for 9.

Rachel Priest looked to make the first six overs count but a swing and a miss saw Becky Grundy clean bowl her for 13 to leave Storm on 27-2 after six overs.

However Storm regrouped with Knight and University alumna Fran Wilson at the crease, with Knight reaching her fifty off 31 balls in the 14th over.

Lightning needed a breakthrough, and it came from the introduction of Sonia Odedra in the 15th over when Wilson skied a catch to Paige Scholfield. Odedra then followed it up with a second wicket, with Lee edging to wicket-keeper Amy Jones for a duck.

However Storm still looked ominous with a four from Hennessey and a six from the impressive Knight in the 17th over.
With 24 from 12 balls required Elwiss bowled a tight over to restrict the scoring and with her last delivery deflected the ball on to the stumps ball to run out Knight.

With 17 required off six balls some fine bowling at the death from Perry ensured Lightning collected their second victory, moving them to second place in the Kia Super League.

Speaking after the match Amy Jones said: “It felt really good out there. Obviously I had to try and create a partnership with Ellyse after we lost a couple of early wickets.

“It’s a nice pitch and you get value for your shots here as it’s a racing outfield, so you can just play proper shots and get up and down.

“I’m feeling good behind the wicket with the gloves and I’ve had a couple of stumpings and catches so far in the tournament so hopefully that continues.”

Sonia Odedra added: “They’d built a good partnership, Fran and Heather, so I took the wicket at a good time which brought us back into the game.”

“My last over ruined my figures a little bit but I’m just glad we got the win in the end. After Wednesday we just tried to be positive and play our own game and that’s what we did today.”

Lightning are back in action at Loughborough University on Friday, August 12 against Surrey Stars, 4.30pm start. Ticket details can be found on the Loughborough Lightning website HERE