KSL 2017, Match 5 Review: Suzie Bates stars in Southern Vipers' win over Loughborough Lightning

The defending champions Southern Vipers registered their second win in two games in the 2017 edition of the Kia Super League with a crushing win over the Loughborough Lightning on Tuesday at the Derby. The Lightning invited the Vipers to bat first but Suzie Bates made them pay for the decision by scoring the first ever century of the KSL history.

Bates started off with four boundaries in the 2nd over bowled by Beth Langston and hit two fours and a six in the 4th over bowled by Rebecca Grundy. With a six and two fours off consecutive balls from Ellyse Perry in the 6th over, Bates brought up her half century in just 30 balls. In the mandatory powerplay, the Vipers scored 63 runs with 53 of those coming from Bates’ bat. She put on 87 for the opening stand with Hayley Matthews in 9 overs before the West Indian departed for 12.

Georgia Adams also got out for just 12 runs, but Bates carried on till the end. She shared an unbeaten 50-run stand with Daniel Wyatt for the 3rd wicket in 6.1 overs to take the score to 180/2. The right-hander brought up her hundred in just 63 balls and remained unbeaten on 119 which came off 72 balls with 15 fours and 4 sixes.

The previous highest score in the KSL was 91 by Dane van Niekerk which she scored while playing for Loughborough Lightning against Surrey Stars last year. The same innings witnessed the team post a total of 168/6, the highest in KSL before Southern Vipers went past it in the most recent encounter.

In the chase, Lightning lost three wickets in 5 overs with the likes of Amy Jones, Elyse Villani and Perry departing cheaply. The Loughborough’s captain Georgia Elwiss top scored with 32 before Suzie cleaned her up. She was also the pick of the bowlers bagging 3 wickets for 15 runs in the 3 overs as the Loughborough Lightning were bowled out for 134, and they lost the game by 46 runs.

Brief scores:

Southern Vipers – 180/2 in 20 overs (Suzie Bates – 119* (72); Lucy Higham – 1/26)

Loughborough Lightning – 134/10 in 20 overs (Georgia Elwiss – 32 (29); Suzie Bates – 3/15)

Southern Vipers won by 46 runs