Rachel Priest power-hitting leads Western Storm to big win over Surrey Stars

Rachel Priest gave a masterclass in power hitting as Western Storm maintained their 100% record in the 2019 Kia Super League with a 77-run thrashing of Surrey Stars at Guildford.

The New Zealand international blazed 89 in just 55 balls with six sixes and ten fours as Storm put up 171 for 4. Stars never threatened to chase it down with Sonia Odedra returning figures of 4 for 25 to hustle them out for 94.

It means victory over Yorkshire Diamonds on Wednesday will see Storm head for Finals Day with a perfect 10/10 record in the group stages.

For the Stars, this was a sixth defeat in a row in what has become a wretched campaign.

Priest had her radar set from over one, hitting Dane van Niekerk into the crowd. Eva Gray got similar treatment, though the New Zealand would have had her heart in her mouth after one lbw shout from Marizanne Kapp which was turned down by umpire Sue Redfearn.

Smriti Mandhana was superbly stumped by Sarah Taylor off van Niekerk, but Priest continued on with her relentless assault. Three more maximums and six fours carried her to 50 in just 33 balls with Storm skipper Heather Knight content to play second fiddle.

Stars didn't help their cause, Amy Gordon dropping Priest at deep mid-on on 76 before shelling another chance, this time to dismiss Knight when she had 22, Laura Marsh the unlucky bowler on both occasions.

A century looked certain for Priest, but she fell 11 short, pulling a short one from van Niekerk to Natalie Sciver on the midwicket fence. The stand with Knight had realised 97 in 65 balls.

Knight took charge, moving to her own half-century with a six and five fours. And though she fell to Marsh in the last over, 171 for 4 was another imposing score.

The Stars made the worst possible start in pursuit of the target, Lizelle Lee falling to Freya Davies for one to continue her poor run in the campaign. Van Niekerk soon followed, hitting one huge six before nicking Deepti Sharma into the gloves of Priest.

The rate required was soon beyond ten, but with Davies and Sharma bowling with superb accuracy, the Stars went six overs without finding the fence. Successive fours from Taylor ended the famine, but still the scoreboard pressure mounted. Taylor's shot back over the head of Anya Shrubsole was a joy to watch, but England's 2017 World Cup star extracted swift revenge when the Stars' wicketkeeper fell later in the over to a catch by Knight at extra cover.

Knight accounted for Bryony Smith and Sciver and Kapp fell in successive balls to Odedra, the latter having her stumps spread-eagled.

There would be no hat-trick, but there was a third wicket for Odedra when Marsh was stumped for just a single. And she struck again later in the over as Gray found the hands of Sophie Luff. Naomi Dattani joined in the fun by mopping up the tail on a sorry afternoon for the Stars.