Kia Super League
Western Storm 161-0 beat Yorkshire Diamonds 160-7 by 10 wkts

A BLISTERING opening stand between Heather Knight and Rachel Priest fired Western Storm to a brilliant 10-wicket victory away to Yorkshire Diamonds.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bowl first, and had their first wicket in the second over, as Chamari Atapattu was run out by Stafanie Taylor.

Captain Lauren Winfield and Sophie Devine, however, took the attack to the bowlers, reaching 75 before Devine (41 off 21 balls) was bowled by Anya Shrubsole, returning to the Storm side after injury.

Katherine Brunt then added a useful 22 before being caught by Shrubsole off the bowling of Claire Nicholas.

Winfield remained until the 18th over, at which point she was bowled by Freya Davies for an excellent 58 (off 44 balls, with eight 4s and one 6), leaving her side on 141-4.

Three more wickets fell - two of them run-outs - in a strong finish by the fielding side, as the Diamonds posted 160-7.

Holly Huddleston (1-19 off four overs) and Shrubsole (1-30 off four) had the best figures of the Storm bowlers.

The visitors' openers began well, with captain Knight supporting Priest's more aggressive approach.

A steady start took them to 31-0, before they gathered steam to reach 81-0 from 10 overs - with Priest on 58 (off 42 balls) and Knight 19.

The pair then scored 22 - with two 4s and two 6s - off Atapattu in the 12th over, racing to 136-0 off 15 overs and closing in on victory.

Priest secured a stellar century before winning the match with two successive 4s - Storm triumphant by 10 wickets and with three overs to spare.

New Zealander Priest ended with a stellar 106 (off 65 balls, with 14 4s and three 6s), and Knight 48 (off 38 balls, with three 4s and one 6).

Brunt (0-28 off four overs) and Jenny Gunn (0-32 off four) were the pick of a battered Diamonds attack.

Storm - fourth in the Kia Super League standings with two wins and a loss - are back in action this Wednesday (August 23, 2pm start), away to Surrey Stars, before hosting Lancashire Thunder in Bristol on Saturday, August 26 (2.30pm).