Thunder won the toss and elected to field first. A decision that looked to have paid off with Lightning under pressure at the powerplay scoring just 18-3.
This dismal start soon disappeared with a valiant effort from captain Georgia Elwiss (38) relighting the Lightning fire. A quick 18 from du Preez saw her undefeated run come to an end, having scored an impressive 126 in three matches.The passing of du Preez opened the opportunity for Georgia Adams to come front and centre.
Adams struck the ball well raising her 50 off 33 balls, striking several sixes to take Lightning to a competitive score of 157-7. Sharing a partnership worth 82 with Kathryn Bryce (32) the duo’s fearless efforts accelerated the score, which was the key decider in tonight’s match.
Key performances with the ball also helped Lightning take the win. Kirstie Gordon was denied her attempt at a hat trick removing Luus for 30 and Ecclestone first ball before the umpires called the game. Gordon was pick of the bowlers with an earlier wicket giving her figures of 3.4-18-3. Hayley Matthews was also very influential in the field, taking two wickets in the sixth over and a catch out in the deep off the bowling of captain Elwiss. Her impressive two overs with the ball saw her take two victims for just one run, earning her the title of today's most economical bowler.
Lightning having taken maximum points from today now sit second in the KSL table – one vital step closer to finals day.
Captain Elwiss commented:
“It’s never ideal losing three wickets in the powerplay, but the way the players responded showed what we’re about. I am particularly pleased for Georgia Adams and Kathryn Bryce. Down there you’re dealt a hard hand, you sometimes only get to face a few balls but to be given the opportunity and to do so well with it is so good for the them to show what they could do.
It’s been a good run we’ve been on, the girls are clear on their roles and if I give them the ball or they’re out there with the bat they know what they need to do. The most important thing is the way we stick together as a group and we keep building and gaining momentum.”
Head Coach Rob Taylor said:
“The game had absolutely everything, we had a difficult start, we would’ve liked to have made a little bit more use of the fresh wicket, but it’s a funny old game and when you end up 157 on the board.
It was really impressive from the middle order. Especially a stand out debut KSL 50 for Georgia Adams, joined by good knocks from Georgia Elwiss, Kathryn Bryce and Mignon du Preez. And like I have said before, it’s not necessarily the way it runs it’s about the way you go about scoring your runs and the players did well to score like they did continuously through the middle phase of the game to get back into it.
With 157 on the board it is always going to be a difficult chase for the opposition, but I thought they batted well to begin with and didn’t let us get in there with wickets. But when we got one they soon started to unscrew and actually when we came off for rain we were way ahead.
So, the overall performance was good but there’s still some areas we can improve upon going into our next match against Surrey Stars on Friday.”