Kia Super League

Western Storm 82-2

Loughborough Lightning 67 ao

Western Storm win by 18 runs

SMRITI Mandhana hit 50 as Western Storm beat Kia Super League leaders Loughborough Lightning.

Storm bowled and fielded with iron discipline to restrict Lightning to 67 without loss and inflict their first defeat in three outings.

Mandhana and Rachel Priest accrued nine runs from the first over before Mandhana received a let-off when being dropped at mid-on.

She heaved Sophie Devine over long-on for another maximum in the next over.

Priest also opened up her shoulders, twice clearing the rope as Devine went for 19 in one over.

Mandhana drove Jenny Gunn to the long-off boundary as runs continued to flow. She then unleashed a startling cover drive for four at the expense of Kirstie Gordon as Storm brought up fifty in the fourth over.

Priest lifted Georgia Elwiss high over the mid-wicket boundary, a blow equalled in ferocity when Mandhana registered a massive six over long-on in the same over. Elwiss exacted revenge when Priest top-edged the final ball of the fifth over to wicketkeeper Amy Jones with the score on 71.

Heather Knight played across the line to Smith and departed for a first-ball duck as Storm briefly faltered, but Mandhana kept her foot to the floor, lifting Smith over long-off to realise 50 with her fourth maximum.

Determined to get in on the act herself, West Indies international Stafanie Taylor then hoisted the final ball of the innings over deep square leg to stamp Storm’s authority.