Smriti Mandhana Shines Again As Western Storm Thrash Yorkshire Diamonds

Smriti Mandhana, on Sunday, scored her third fifty-plus score in the Women’s Cricket Super League as Western Storm thrashed Yorkshire Diamonds by seven wickets.

Riding on yet another impressive knock from Mandhana, the Storm continued their march towards the Finals Day with a fifth win from six matches. The defending champions chased down 173 against the Diamonds with utmost ease. Mandhana was once again the star of the show, slamming 56 off just 36.

STATS ?

Highest run scorer KSL 2018: Mandhana
Highest individual score KSL 2018: Mandhana
Highest batting average KSL 2018: Mandhana
Fastest strike rate KSL 2018: Mandhana
Most sixes KSL 2018: Mandhana
Most sixes KSL history: Mandhana#StormTroopers @BCCIWomen pic.twitter.com/jWxCTItiRR

— Western Storm (@_WesternStorm) August 5, 2018

The India opener set the tone for the chase by sharing an opening partnership of 101 inside 10 overs with Rachel Priest. As a result, the Storm chased down the total with four balls to spare. The Storm are now level on 23 points with Loughborough Lightning at the top of the table.

Diamonds openers Beth Mooney and Lauren Winfield gave the team a solid start by adding 119 runs inside 14 overs. Mooney led the way by scoring 69 off 42 balls.  On the other end, Winfield scored 48 off 43 balls. The hosts reached the 100-run mark inside 12 overs before Heather Knight castled Winfield to give her side the much-needed breakthrough.

Mooney, who had earlier reached 50 off 34 balls, was then one of three batsmen run out going for two as the score fell to 128 for 2 in the 15th. Chamari Atapattu and Thea Brookes were the other two. The Diamonds eventually managed to post 172 for 5.

In reply, Priest and Mandhana came out all guns blazing. Priest hit three fours off the first over from Beth Langston and hoisted Delissa Kimmince over deep midwicket for the first six of the match. As a result, the visitors raced away to 41 in just the third over.

Atapattu then spilled a tough chance from Mandhana who was batting on just 17 at that time.  Later in the fifth over, Mandhana lofted two sixes over long-on and then pulled Katherine Brunt over wide long-leg.

After the end of the powerplay, the Storm were 69 without loss.

Mandhana soon reached her fifty off 29 balls. A littler later, the Storm reached 100 in the 10th. Katie Levick then broke the stand by dismissing Priest for 37.  7 runs later, Atapattu castled Mandhana to bring the hosts back in the game.  With the run out of West Indian Stefanie Taylor, the Storm found themselves three down for 127. However, skipper Knight scored 45 off 37 balls to take her side home.

Brief scores:

Western Storm 174 for 3 (Mandhana 56, Knight 45*) beat Yorkshire Diamonds 172 for 5 (Mooney 69, Winfield 48) by seven wickets