Finals day of the inaugural Kia Super League took place under blue skies at the county ground in Chelmsford and the WHITE FERNS were well represented.
In the semi-final which took place between the Western Storm and Loughborough Lightning Sophie Devine made 21 fro 30 balls in the Lightning's total of 124/7. Australian all rounder Ellyse Perry struck an unbeaten 64. The Western Storm knocked off the runs with 3 balls to spare thanks to a half century by England captain Heather Knight.
This meant the Western storm would meet the Southern Vipers in the Final. The Vipers had already qualified for the final by virtue of coming top in the group stage.
The final was a tense, well fought affair which led to the Vipers being crowned champions as veterans Lydia Greenway and Sara McGlashan held their nerve in a tense run chase.
The Vipers had finished top of the qualifying table and seemed on course for a comfortable win on Finals Day in Chelmsford as their captain Charlotte Edwards shared an opening stand of 78 with Suzie Bates in reply to a Storm total of 140 for five.
Storm, who had beaten Loughborough Lightning in the first game of a double header to secure their place in the Final, hit back by dismissing both openers in the space of three overs, with Bates brilliantly run out by Fran Wilson for 52.
But Greenway joined McGlashan in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 39, and drove the winning boundary wide of mid-off with seven balls to spare.
Arran Brindle was an unlikely bowling star for the Vipers. The 34-year-old allrounder from Yorkshire came out of retirement for the KSL, and took two for 15 from her four overs including the key wicket of West Indies allrounder Stafanie Taylor – all while wearing her Vipers cap.
Storm’s total of 140 for five had been built around a canny half century by WHITE FERN Rachel Priest.
She shared an opening stand of 74 inside 11 overs with Taylor, but the Storm started to lose momentum after Taylor had lofted Brindle to Edwards at mid-off.
Priest fell for 57 off 55 balls off the bowling of her compatriot Bates, coolly held on the boundary by Greenway, and although Wilson and Georgia Hennessy added some handy late runs, they did not quite have enough.
Edwards signalled her intent with a rare straight six, and Bates showed why she was named the outstanding female cricketer in the world by Wisden earlier this year by reaching a 43-ball half century with seven classical boundaries.
Bates revealed that the Vipers players were determined to win the inaugural KSL title for former England captain Charlotte Edwards and Lydia Greenway, who also ended a long international career in the spring – and had the satisfaction of hitting the winning runs.
“With Lydia Greenway and Lottie having retired from international cricket, they’ve really put into this Vipers team,” said Bates.
“It’s been a tough summer for them both I think so it’s just really pleasing to give them some good news and have a good team performance out there.”
Edwards reciprocated, thanking Bates and the rest of her team for their support. “It’s been an emotional tournament really,” she confirmed. “I’ve had to deal with quite a lot this summer. The girls have backed me 110%, you feel there was a little bit they wanted to win it for us and what we’ve been through. And certainly the overseas players have been absolutely brilliant. I’ve really sensed the team behind me, and it’s been brilliant to be a part of. I’ve loved having a slightly different role, I’m more of a mentor in this team I think, I’ve been and around the Ageas, and it’s been really enjoyable.”
