India all-rounder Deepti Sharma starred with the bat to steer Western Storm to women’s Super League title on Sunday at the County Ground in Hove, hitting a belligerent 39 from just 22 balls against Southern Vipers.
Sharma’s late assault was instrumental in Storm chasing down Vipers’ imposing total of 172 with an over to spare. In-form captain Heather Knight anchored the run chase with a fine unbeaten 78 from 53 balls, which included nine fours and three sixes. Opener Smriti Mandhana, though, missed out and was dismissed for a first-ball duck by Natasha Farrant.
The Knight-Sharma duo built a breezy 71-run stand off just 39 deliveries.
Earlier, all-rounder Danielle Wyatt’s thrilling 42-ball 73 helped Vipers get to 172/7. Sharma, despite conceding 40 from her four overs, accounted for the wicket of Wyatt, which triggered a middle-order collapse.
Brief Scores: Southern Vipers 172/7 (Danielle Wyatt 73, Tammy Beaumont 33; Anya Shrubsole 4-0-26-2) lost to Western Storm 174/4 (Heather Knight 78*, Deepti Sharma 39*; Natasha Farrant 3-0-19-2) by 6 wickets.
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