Women's Cricket Super League 2017

[Kevin S]

So this will be the first televised domestic women's cricket competition in England, fresh on the heels of winning the World Cup.

Sky are showing six games next week, and the finals day on Friday 1 September:

Kia Super League - Sky Sports live televised games

Thursday, August 10 (The Ageas Bowl)
2pm: Southern Vipers v Western Storm (Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event)

Friday, August 11 (Headingley)
2pm: Yorkshire Diamonds v Lancashire Thunder (Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event)

Saturday, August 12 (Taunton)
11.30am: Western Storm v Loughborough Lightning (Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Mix)

Sunday, August 13 (The Oval)
6.30pm: Surrey Stars v Yorkshire Diamonds (Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Mix)

Tuesday, August 15 (Derby)
2pm: Loughborough Lightning v Southern Vipers (Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event)

Wednesday, August 16 (Emirates Old Trafford
2pm: Lancashire Thunder v Surrey Stars (Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event)

Friday, September 1 (Hove)
Finals Day

There are matches in the week in between as well, but presumably there is some schedule juggling going on with the upcoming England vs West Indies men's series, and I think they are piggybacking the broadcasts with the T20 Blast as well.

It's at times like these that I really wish we had a decent standard cricket ground in the vicinity. There's Fenners, of course, but the major competitions are always miles away.

Here's the Beeb's preview of the competition:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/40860515

[Kevin S]

Venues:
Rose Bowl, Southampton
Headingley, Leeds
County Ground, Taunton
The Oval, London
County Ground, Derby
Old Trafford, Manchester
Haslegrave Ground, Loughborough
Stanley Park, Blackpool
York Cricket Club, York
Aigburth, Liverpool
Arundel Castle, Arundel
County Ground, Bristol
County Ground, Hove

[SouthdownRebel]

Oooh, when's the game at Arundel Kev? And of course, finals day being at Hove is tempting for me too...

[Etienne]

I'd really like to take my daughter to a game, but it's probably a year too early, and nothing near us.

[Kevin S]

Oooh, when's the game at Arundel Kev? And of course, finals day being at Hove is tempting for me too...

SATURDAY 26TH AUGUST 2017, 1430
Southern v Yorkshire
Venue: Arundel Castle, Arundel

Tix:
https://www.eticketing.co.uk/ageasbo...x?itemref=2980

[Kevin S]

Western Storm were 70 all out against Southern Vipers. Ouch.

[Kevin S]

Surrey undefeated three games in. They host Western next, while Lancashire are yet to get off the mark and host Southern (both matches on Weds).

Team	W	L	NRR	Pts
Surrey	3	0	1.009	13
Southern	2	1	2.319	10
Yorkshire	2	2	-0.001	8
Western	2	1	-0.906	8
Loughborough	1	3	-0.269	5
Lancashire	0	3	-1.850	0

[SouthdownRebel]

SATURDAY 26TH AUGUST 2017, 1430
Southern v Yorkshire
Venue: Arundel Castle, Arundel

Tix:
https://www.eticketing.co.uk/ageasbo...x?itemref=2980

Thanks Kev. SdR Jr thoroughly enjoyed Sussex v Essex in the Blast on Friday evening, so a trip to this is definitely on.

[SouthdownRebel]

Thoroughly enjoyable afternoon at Arundel yesterday - £6 entry for the two of us.

Southern Vipers won fairly comfortably batting first, and thanks to Surrey's defeat they win the group stage and avoid a semi-final (which will be Surrey Stars against Western Storm). Runs from Hayley Matthews and Mignon du Preez.

Slightly disappointing that finals day is on Friday, meaning attendance of the semi-final is likely to be affected. The final starts at 5pm as well - perhaps there was a reluctance to switch the floodlights on.

Strange coincidence of the day - SdR Jr asked what happens if the batter hits the stumps at the other end, and 10 minutes later Katherine Brunt was run out in exactly that fashion.

[Kevin S]

So, finals day then.

The 2nd v 3rd playoff, Surrey v Western, is at 2:15. As SdR says, the winners play Southern in the final, which is at 6:00pm. Both matches are in Hove, and also live on Sky Sports Cricket and Main Event.

[Kevin S]

Quite a dramatic 20th over in the Surrey innings. Shrubsole took three wickets for six runs in it.

Western need 101 to reach this evening's Final.

[Kevin S]

A flying start to the reply with 12 on the first over, but then Kapp bowls a brace in a maiden.

[Kevin S]

And the third wicket goes too. Western in trouble.

[Kevin S]

(Commentary on Five Live btw)

[Kevin S]

17/4

[Kevin S]

In terms of the worm (an excellent data visualisation for limited overs cricket), Western are maintaining a decent lead on runs scored, so perhaps those early losses won't cost them.

[Kevin S]

Halfway worm.

[SouthdownRebel]

Western Storm won the final at a canter in the end, after a brutal innings by Rachel Priest. She took 25 off one over from Linsey Smith who immediately left the field in some distress (reportedly suffering the after effects of a chest infection). Priest finally holed out in the 10th over for 72 off 36 out of a score at the time of 94/3.

Charlotte Edwards announced her retirement from professional cricket after the game - not the ideal way to cap an incredible career but that will soon be forgotten.