The Western Storm fell at the final hurdle as Surrey Stars stole through to the final.
The Stars ran out winners by nine runs in the first of the Women’s Cricket Super League semi-finals thanks to brilliant bowling at the death by Sophia Dunkley, Laura Marsh and Natalie Sciver, who conceded six, five and four runs respectively off the last three overs. Storm’s top-scorer Fran Wilson was in a match-winning mood but could only get on strike for eight of the last 18 deliveries thanks to tight bowling by the Stars’ trio.
Wilson ended undefeated on 58 off 45 balls (with nine fours) as they finished on 153-6, Sciver (2-21), Dunkley (1-22) and Dane van Niekerk (2-27) doing the damage with the ball to see their side through to the final.
Batting first, the Stars got off to a reasonable start before an undefeated 72 from Sciver (who picked up the Player of the Match award) and 32 not out from Marizanne Kapp lifted them to 162-5. Freya Davies was the best of the Storm bowlers, returning 1-21.
Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
