Kia Super League

Surrey Stars 169-6 beat Western Storm 117 by 52 runs

WESTERN Storm fell to their second defeat of the 2017 Kia Super League as they were well beaten by Surrey Stars at The Oval.

Claire Nicholas (3-20) impressed with the ball for Storm, but South African opener Lizelle Lee struck 72 as Surrey racked up 169-6, which proved to be comfortably out of the visitors' reach.

Having won the toss and elected to field, Western Storm made the perfect start when Nicholas trapped England opener Tammy Beaumont lbw with the first ball of the match.

That brought Marizanne Kapp to the middle, and she joined forces with her compatriot Lee to compile the match-winning partnership of 103 for the second wicket.

Lee was particularly impressive, striking seven 4s and six 6s before she was caught by Nicholas from the bowling of Heather Knight for 72 from the final ball of the 12th over.

England World Cup winner Nat Sciver continued the home side's momentum, hitting six boundaries in her 30 before becoming Nicholas' second victim to leave the score 145-3.

Despite a late flurry of wickets, including Kapp for 48, the Stars ended their 20 overs on 169-6.

Storm openers Rachel Priest and Heather Knight put on 161 to earn a 10-wicket win at Yorkshire on Sunday but, despite a solid start, lightning did not strike twice as Knight fell to Kapp for 11 with the score on 26.

Fran Wilson followed for a golden duck from the next delivery, and Priest's departure for 17 left the Storm reeling on 43-4 with the writing on the wall.

Somerset's Sophie Luff (7) was next to go, but Georgia Hennessy (28) and Alice Macleod (30) restored some pride by adding 59 for the sixth wicket.

They both fell in the space of five balls, however, and the Storm collapsed to 117 all out.

The defeat knocked the Storm down to fourth in the table, level on points with Yorkshire Diamonds ahead of Saturday's final round of fixtures.

With Yorkshire ahead on net run rate and only three teams making it through to Finals Day, Western Storm need to defeat Lancashire Lightning in Bristol and hope Yorkshire slip up against the Southern Vipers.