Winning the toss, Lightning batted out their 20 overs putting a total of 135-5 on the board. Hayley Matthews recorded her first runs for the side with a tidy 21 off 23 balls. Partnered by Amy Jones who couldn’t quite see off Vipers’ Scholfield, falling for 24.
Captain Georgia Elwiss provided stability to the middle order, attacking the ball well for a well-made 37. Mignon du Preez added 13, with an unbeaten 17* off 7 balls for Jenny Gunn who’s strike rate topped the table at 242.85.
Having set 136 for the win, Vipers started well with both Wyatt and Bates scoring quickly. It took seven overs before Lightning got their breakthrough from Kirstie Gordon who removed Bates (22) followed by Beaumont (0) in quick succession. Chamari Attapatu was next to strike, taking her first skin for Lightning crucially dismissing Wyatt for 40.
Sharp fielding from Lucy Higham saw off Brookes in the 14thover, with a second run out from Elwiss sending Bouchier back to the pavilion. Sarah Glenn trapped the much needed wicket of Taylor (38). Despite pressure building on the visitors, Vipers kept the scoreboard ticking over.
With 129 on the board, Scholfield departed run out by du Preez. Two balls later Glenn struck again to send Farrant back. Vipers with eight wickets gone, the match was going down to the wire. However, it was the sting of the Vipers rather than the strike of Lightning who ended this bout. Matthews couldn’t deny the seven runs required to take the match, as Rudd stroke the winning runs with three balls to spare.
We caught up with Head Coach Rob Taylor below: