Western Storm blow Diamonds away for the second time this season

As the Kia Super League gets towards the business end of the competition things have started to hot up. Yesterday saw a close game with a record run chase. That was the same story at Scarborough as Western Strom beat Yorkshire Diamonds by 7 wickets with four balls to spare.

Yorkshire Diamonds chose to bat on a good-looking wicket. When Beth Mooney and Lauren Winfield got accustomed to the bowling they started to find the boundary with ease. They broke the record first wicket partnership for Yorkshire Diamonds as they added 128 for the first wicket. Before Mooney was run out going for a second run from the final ball of the 15^th over.

By that time Mooney had scored 69 from 40 balls. It was one of three run outs as the fielder’s aim was hitting the target with precision. Winfield was one of only two players in the Yorkshire Diamonds not to be run out and was instead bowled by Heather Knight for 48. It brought about a mini collapse as the Western Storm field closed in.

Yorkshire Diamonds had still posted 172 for 5. Until yesterday no one had chased down so many. It is a target that Western Storm with their big-hitting openers of Rachel Priest and Smriti Mandhana striding out to the middle.

Katherine Brunt was the only bowler in the powerplay not to suffer at the flashing blades of the Storm batters.

Priest looked the better set of the two batters. Mandhana failed to get true contact early on as the ball either fell just in front or over the fielder. It didn’t stop her from reaching her fifty from 29 balls that included 3 sixes and 5 fours.

With Priest and Mandhana back in the pavilion Western Storm looked to their other experienced internationals to see them home. Heather Knight who has been in good form scored an unbeaten 45 from 37 balls which included 6 fours.

Along with Fran Wilson towards the end, they kept the run-rate required within reach as Yorkshire diamonds tried to string dot balls together to give Brunt something to bowl at in the final over.

It was not to be for the home side as Western Storm needed just four runs from the final over which Wilson ensured with a paddle sweep that raced to the boundary to give Western Storm another impressive win.