KSL Finals Day: Five Players to Watch Out For

With Kia Super League Finals Day taking place on Monday we look at five players to keep an eye on. These are players that have yet to make their mark on the international scene, but we think will have an impact on the events of the last day of this year’s KSL.



 



Sophia Dunkley – Surrey Stars



An all-rounder who scores runs for fun. With the Surrey Stars top order on fire, Dunkley hasn’t batted as often as she would like. A top score this year of 66 in an opening game loss to Southern Vipers shows she able to play important innings when things aren’t going for her side.



She then followed that up with 3 for 18 at Cheltenham against Western Storm. The three wickets weren’t of insubstantial players either. Smriti Mandhana, Heather Knight and Fran Wilson were her victims that day.



 



Danielle Gibson – Western Storm



5 wickets at 23.4 might not instantly show the potential that Gibson has. At only 17, she will no doubt improve over time. Each incarnation has seen a teenage talent emerge and this could be Gibson’s. Like Katie George before her last year, she is not afraid to run in and bowl her heart out.



 



Kirstie Gordon – Loughborough Lightning



The Scottish left-arm spinner finished the county season as the leading wicket-taker and has taken that form into the Kia Super League. Along with her Loughborough Lightning teammate Sophie Devine, she is the joint leading wicket-taker with 16 wickets.



She makes life difficult to score in the middle overs and picks up wickets with the pressure she builds. If Loughborough Lightning are to win the final she will be one of the key bowlers.



 



Freya Davies – Western Storm



Part of the Sussex side that won promotion in the county championship and a regular in the Kia Super League for Western Storm.



An opening bowler who has 7 wickets in this year’s competition. This year she also received an England rookie contract that suggests that she is not too far away from England contention.



 



Linsey Smith – Loughborough Lightning



With internationals taking up the bulk of the batting line-ups, it is little wonder why most of these players are bowlers.



Smith like her Loughborough Lightning teammate Gordon is a left-arm spinner. There was talk if there was space for both of them in the side. One of four young spinners in the side, Smith has usually operated in the powerplay overs.



She has ten wickets to her name already she only needs two more wickets to finish in the top five wicket-takers this year. If Loughborough Lightning are to win, the bowling of Smith will be an important factor in that.