Kia Super League

Western Storm 85-2 beat Loughborough Lightning 67-0 by 18 runs

SMRITI Mandhana smashed a rapid half-century as Western Storm overcame Loughborough Lightning by 18 runs in a match reduced to six overs a side in Taunton.

Rain forced the scheduled noon start back to 1.55pm and Lightning opted to field first, a decision they perhaps began to regret as Mandhana and Rachel Priest teed off.

The 22-year-old Indian opener set the tone from her very first ball, lofting it over long-on for six, as Storm raced to 38-0 at the three-over halfway point.

Priest was in on the act too, hitting the biggest six of the innings over mid-wicket into the Somerset Stand from the first ball of the fifth over.

The New Zealander fell for a 13-ball 25 trying to repeat the trick, wicketkeeper Amy Jones holding on to a skier, and Heather Knight was stumped without scoring from her second ball.

Mandhana was untroubled, however, reaching her 50 with her fourth six of the innings - coming from just 18 balls, the knock equalled the fastest ever half-century in women's T20s and she finished unbeaten on 52 from 19.

Stafanie Taylor belted the final ball of the innings for a flat six over imd-wicket as Storm finished on an imposing 85-2, leaving the Lightning requiring 14.33 runs an over.

The visitors gave it a good go and reached 30-0 after three themselves, with Sophie Devine striking the ball cleanly and picking up a succession of early boundaries.

The fourth over of the innings, bowled by Stafanie Taylor, proved a turning point as just seven came from it and the required rate shot up.

Devine finished unbeaten with 46 from just 21 balls, hitting three fours and four sixes, but it was not quite enough to lead her side to victory as they finished 18 runs short - Anya Shrubsole finished with 0-21 from two overs on her home ground.

Speaking afterwards, Storm opener Rachel Priest said: "I don't really change my approach based on the shortened game - I have the same approach in every match we play.

"Smriti has been great and I have the best seat in the house watching her hit bombs all around the ground.

"The way we restricted them with dot balls was really impressive and we backed it up well in the field - it sets us up nicely for the next few games."