KSL 2017: Semi-Final, Review: Western Storm make it to the finals after a close win over the Surrey Stars

Western Storm joined the Southern Vipers in finals of the 2017 edition of Kia Super League 2nd time in two seasons as they defeated the Surrey Stars in the semi-final game. Western Storm and Southern Vipers, who faced each other in the tournament opener, will take on each other in the final shortly after the playoff match. The Surrey Stars, who were unbeaten in their first four games, lost their last league match by a huge margin to finish 2nd in the points table and play the qualifying match.

Surrey elected to bat first but were in early troubles as their devastating top order fell cheaply. Openers Tammy Beaumont and Lizelle Lee scored three and ten runs respectively while Marizanne Kapp and Natalie Sciver managed just 19 and 12 runs each. Sophia Dunkley-Brown rescued her side with a 33-ball 30 but the World Cup final star Anya Shrubsole took three wickets towards the end to restrict the Stars to just 100.

Kapp and Sciver got them the much-needed breakthroughs early on as the Western Storm were subdued to 17/4 by the 4th over. Kapp dismissed Heather Knight (5), Fran Wilson (0) and Sophie Luff (1) in a space of four balls while Sciver cleaned up Rachel Priest for 11 runs. However, a 5th wicket stand from Stafanie Taylor and Georgia Hennessy put them out of the troubles. Hennessy, who was dropped by Beaumont on the very 2nd ball she faced, making use of the opportunity the right-hander struck a 28-ball 21 to share a 44-run partnership with Taylor.

The match started swinging in favour of the Stars with 34 runs needed off 35 balls and they had four wickets in hand. But Taylor calmly picked up singles and twos while Shrubsole hit a couple of boundaries including the only six of the game and that took off the pressure from the Western Storm. With an unbeaten 37 off 45 balls, Taylor guided her team to the finals with seven balls to spare.

Brief Scores:

Surrey Stars: 100/7 in 20 overs (Sophia Dunkley-Brown 30; Anya Shrubsole 3/22)

Western Storm: 101/7 in 18.5 overs (Stafanie Taylor 37*; Marizanne Kapp 3/11)

Western Storm won by three wickets