Storm blown away by Vipers in KSL opener

Southern Vipers, 73/1 (9 overs), beat Western Storm, 70 all out (18.5 overs), by nine wickets

Suzie Bates clattered an unbeaten 47 as Southern Vipers’ bid to retain the Kia Super League got off to the perfect start with a bonus-point-mauling of the Western Storm.

Bates, the second best T20 player in the World according to ICC rankings, made light of the Storm's slender total by chasing it down in just nine overs. The win, by nine wickets, was played out in front of a packed Ageas Bowl with 2,300 supporters already in place by the start and more arriving throughout the match.

The Storm, who lost the 2016 final to the Vipers, struggled to get going after being stuck in on a slow looking track, but it took until the third over before Tash Farrant found a tiny outside edge to have Rachel Priest caught behind.

Left-arm spinner Linsey Smith, a breakthrough player in the inaugural Kia Super League, began 2017 in style by bowling England captain Heather Knight.

Georgia Hennessey only managed eight from her first 24 balls before striking the first boundary of the tournament – a huge six over long on – in a 16-run over off Arran Brindle, but there the run-scoring stalled again; Smith completed her impressive spell by bowling 15 dot balls to end with figures of one for nine.

Wickets came regularly as Hennessey was lbw to Suzie Bates’ second ball before Stafanie Taylor drilled straight to a juggling Charlotte Edwards at mid-off. Sophie Luff was run out by an Edwards direct hit, Alice MacLeod was caught and bowled by Bates, and the end was signalled when Fran Wilson was caught behind off home-grown fast bowler Katie George.

The collapse was complete soon after: Jodie Dibble was run out by Brindle, Hayley Matthews bowled Clare Nicholas, and Freya Davies was the last to go, run out by a 40-yard direct hit from Smith.

Chasing 71 to win, the Vipers were given a lucky escape when Bates narrowly managed to make her ground having charged Clare Nicholas, the first ever Welsh representative in the Kia Super League.

The Storm had struggled for boundaries in their innings, only striking three in their 18.5 overs, but the home side seemed to find the ropes much more easily. West Indian Matthews signalled the intent with two fours after the first over had been blocked for a maiden.

At the other end Bates, whose bowling analysis was a stunning two for eight, was also clubbing the ball all around the Ageas Bowl – with a dance and flick through the off-side the pick of her strikes. The White Ferns skipper then pinged a straight six down the ground as the Vipers smashed 34 off Holly Huddleston’s second over, the Kiwi seamer struggling with her front-foot discipline.

Matthews was caught by Hennessey after looping one into the covers but Bates cleared the ropes for a second time to win the game.

Stay up to date with all the goings on in the competition – including tickets, fixtures, results and team news – using our dedicated Kia Super League section.