Loughborough Lightning 163 for 4 (Jones 74*) beat Southern Viper 127 (Atapattu 3-18) by 36 runs
Amy Jones‘ superlative 74 not out helped to land Loughborough Lightning a significant mental advantage over Southern Vipers in their Kia Super League semi-final dress rehearsal.
England star Jones collected her second half-century in a row, while picking up her personal highest KSL score, in typically attractive style. Her innings, laden with a mixture of masterful drives, delicate flicks and pure power laid the platform for a 36-run victory at the Ageas Bowl, and a momentum-spinning sixth straight win.
Spinners Sarah Glenn, Kirstie Gordon and Chamari Atapattu then kept Vipers on a leash, with a combined analysis of 6 for 52 to complete the win.
The two sides will go again at Finals Day, which takes place on Sunday at Hove – with the winner of their re-match set to face Western Storm in the KSL final.
Lightning were given a rolling start, after being stuck in by Tammy Beaumont, with Tash Farrant and Issy Wong gifting seven wides in the first two overs. Openers Jones and Atapattu took the free runs and added explosive hitting of their own to put on 75 – Loughborough’s highest opening partnership of the summer.
Wicketkeeper Jones pumped two sixes, over midwicket and straight down the ground, with her Sri Lankan partner larruping Danni Wyatt over square leg. But Atapattu was bowled by Suzie Bates, attempting to guide the ball down to third man, before Georgia Adams followed soon after when she skied a bouncer to Beaumont at midwicket to hand teenage fast bowler Wong her maiden KSL wicket.
Jones, who reached her fifty in 43 balls, had was joined by a free-scoring Georgia Elwiss, a powerful six over cow joined by three boundaries took her to 28 off 21 balls. She was well caught by Paige Scholfield while attempting a reverse sweep off Amanda-Jade Wellington before former Viper Mignon du Preez was lbw next ball.
But Jones, along with Jenny Gunn, added an unbroken 38 runs to take Loughborough to a commanding 163 for 4, as he ended with seven boundaries and three sixes in her 53-ball 74.
Wyatt had scored 267 in her last four KSL outings to lead the run rankings but hammered her first delivery straight at Gordon at point, after drizzle had slightly prolonged the innings break.
Bates was dropped on 10 at mid-off, but her luck ran out as Jones produced quick hands to stump her off a leg-side wide from Gunn. Vipers slipped to 42 for three at the end of the Powerplay, as Beaumont also fell when she dragged a pull to midwicket.
Lucy Higham spilt a difficult chance over her shoulder when Maia Bouchier was on 5 but redeemed herself was a brilliant pick-up and throw to run out the Hampshire batsman.
Wellington was moved up the order but after three boundaries she was castled by Gordon before Thea Brookes followed in an action replay – the left-armer picking up figures of 2 for 18. Scholfield was caught, Farrant was lbw and Morris and Wong were bowled and as Lightning cruised to victory with an over to spare.