KSL 2017, Match 2 Review: Yorkshire Diamonds register a commanding win over Lancashire Thunder

Yorkshire Diamonds, who managed to win only one game during their previous season of the Kia Super League, began the 2017 season with a big win over the Lancashire Thunder. The Diamonds successfully defended their total of 162/4 to win the game by 28 runs, played at the Leeds. This game was followed up by the NatWest T20 Blast fixture between Yorkshire and Lancashire sides.

After winning the toss, Thunder invited the home side to bat first. Diamonds got off to a good start with the sensation of the Sri Lankan Women’s World Cup campaign, Chamari Atapattu scoring 41 while opening with Lauren Winfield, the captain of the side. The pair put on 72 runs for the opening wicket in 11.3 overs before Atapattu’s innings which included 7 fours came to an end. Sophie Devine departed scoring only 11 runs while Winfield’s run-a-ball 44 with 4 fours and a six also came to an end in quick succession as Diamonds stood at 100/3 in 14.5 overs.

But Katherine Brunt and Alice Davidson-Richards gave the much-required fire power in the last 5 overs as they both shared a 52-run stand for the 4th wicket in just 25 balls to take the side’s total past 160-mark. Brunt struck 2 sixes and 3 fours in her 16-ball 31, while Alice hit 2 sixes in her 22-run knock as a total of 53 runs, came in the final four overs of the innings. The Yorkshire Diamonds hit a total of 6 sixes during this innings, double the number of sixes they managed throughout the previous edition.

Lancashire Thunder failed to get going in the chase against the tight bowling of the home side. Leg-spinner Katie Levick bagged 3 wickets for 30 runs while Davidson-Richards continued her brilliance with the ball as well by recording figures of 3/20 to restrict the Thunder to 134/7. Amy Satterthwaite top scored for her side with a 28-ball 28 hitting 4 fours. Alice Davidson-Richards’ bagged the player of the match award for her excellence with both bat and ball. Interestingly, the Diamonds’ lone win in the 2016 season also came against the Lancashire Thunder.

Brief scores:

Yorkshire Diamonds – 162/4 (20); Lauren Winfield – 44 (43), Danielle Hazell – 2/34 (4)

Lancashire Thunder – 134/7 (20); Amy Satterthwaite – 28 (26), Alice Davidson-Richards – 3/20 (4)

Yorkshire Diamonds won by 28 runs