2019 Women’s Kia Super League – Loughborough Lightning vs Southern Vipers Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Loughborough Lightning vs Southern Vipers taking place? Thursday 8th August 2019 – 16:00 (UK)
Where is Loughborough Lightning vs Southern Vipers taking place? Haslegrave Ground, Loughborough
What is the expected weather for Loughborough Lightning vs Southern Vipers? 23c cloudy but with sunny intervals
What channel is Loughborough Lightning vs Southern Vipers on? Sky Sports have the rights to televise some Kia Super League matches, so it is worth checking their broadcast schedule
Where can I stream Loughborough Lightning vs Southern Vipers? If televised on Sky Sports, then subscribers will be able to stream the match live via Sky Go
Where can I get tickets for Loughborough Lightning vs Southern Vipers? https://www.ecb.co.uk/tickets/ksl
What was the outcome in the last meeting between Loughborough Lightning and Southern Vipers? Loughborough Lightning beat Southern Vipers by 3 wickets
THE TEAM NEWS
LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING
- The 2018 Kia Super League runners-up got off to a losing start this year, after being beaten comfortably by Western Storm in a match which saw three Lightning players dismissed for a duck in their 20 overs.
- England international Amy Jones top scored for Loughborough with 65 from 53 balls and the Solihull-born opener is set to be a key figure in the Lightning batting line-up this season and in this match too.
- Loughborough’s bowlers were comfortably picked apart by the Western Storm top order and the likes of captain Georgia Elwiss and West Indian overseas player Hayley Matthews will need to produce more wicket-taking deliveries in order to trouble the Vipers’ batting, as well as greater contributions with the bat also.
SOUTHERN VIPERS
- The Vipers got off to the perfect start in this year’s Kia Super League, comfortably beating the Lancashire Thunder by 34 runs in Liverpool and picking up an extra bonus point to top the table early on.
- England stars Danni Wyatt and Tammy Beaumont both hit half centuries and are both set to form the backbone of a strong Vipers top order throughout the campaign as they have bounced back nicely from a tough Ashes’ series.
- Tash Farrant starred with the ball with the Vipers, picking up 3/18 and was backed up nicely by West Indian oversees all-rounder Stafanie Taylor, who picked up 1/25 off her four overs and the Vipers are looking like a strong all-round unit even at this early stage.
THE PREDICTION
Despite only being one game in, the Southern Vipers have to be seen as arguably the favourites to win the Kia Super League for a second time. Their victory over Lancashire sent a message out to the rest of the teams and with a top four consisting of Wyatt, Suzie Bates, Beaumont and Taylor, no other team can boast a batting order of such international pedigree.
Loughborough Lightning are at home and will hope to use that to their advantage but after a below-par bowling performance against Western Storm, it is hard to see that same bowling attack not being taken apart by the sheer quality of the Vipers batting. That top order should see Southern Vipers pick up a second win of the campaign.
