Who Will Win Loughborough Lightning vs Western Storm, Womens Super League?
Loughborough Lightning will look to go one better than last season in the 2019 Women’s Cricket Super League. The beaten finalists last time out start their campaign at home to 2017 champions Western Storm on August 6, with the action starting at 16:00 local time.
Lightning topped the table last season and have added overseas quality in the form of Hayley Matthews, Chamari Atapattu and Mignon du Preez for the new season.
Western Storm, who finished second last time out but lost in the play-off and missed out on a place in final, look the team to beat, however. They have Smriti Mandhana to lead their batting again and have added her compatriot Deepti Sharma.
LBL vs WS, Womens Super League: Where to watch/Live streaming
TV channels: Sky Sports
Live streaming: Now TV
LBL vs WS Toss Prediction
Bowling first appeared to the best bet more often than not at Loughborough last season. The Storm will want to start the tournament well and this could be a key toss for them to win.
LBL vs WS Weather Report
Earlier rain is due to make way for a cloudy afternoon in Loughborough, though there could be a bit of sun and temperatures around 21 degrees Celsius.
LBL vs WS Pitch Condition
Read on for team previews, betting tips, latest odds and match prediction for Loughborough Lightning vs Western Storm, Womens Super League 2019...
Loughborough Lightning Team News & Playing 11
LBL Team News
Led by Georgia Elwiss, Loughborough have opted for international experience in their overseas trio. Mignon du Preez, Hayley Matthews and Chamari Atapattu arrive with stacks of T20 experience behind them. Atapattu is a replacement for injured Sophie Devine. Jenny Gunn missed the WT20I leg of the Women’s Ashes with a side strain and may miss the start of the Super League too.
LBL Key Players
Hayley Matthews: One of the most exciting talents in the women’s game, the 21-year-old hit an unbeaten century in the West Indies’ final T20i against Ireland earlier this summer.
Kirstie Gordon: Finished last season as the leading Super League wicket-taker, with 17 from Loughborough’s 11 matches.
Amy Jones: Could not take her excellent form against the West Indies into the Women’s Ashes, but the wicket-keeper-batsman has proved her qualities with the bat and established her England place now.
LBL Team Form
Loughborough topped the Women’s Super League table last season only to fall short in the final. They won seven of their ten league games, but collapsed to 117 all out in the final as they lost to Surrey Stars by 66 runs.
Loughborough Lightning Predicted Playing 11
Hayley Matthews, Amy Jones (wk), Kathryn Bryce, Mignon du Preez, Georgia Elwiss (c), Alice Moaghan, Sarah Glenn, Georgia Adams, Jo Gardner, Lucy Higham, Kirstie Gordon
Western Storm Team News & Playing 11
WS Team News
Western Storm have strengthened this season. They have added Deepti Sharma to returning overseas pair Smriti Mandhana and Rachel Priest, with Stafanie Taylor having not re-signed. Other new faces include Sonia Odedra and Alex Griffiths.
WS Key Players
Smriti Mandhana: Last season’s Super League top run scorer and one of the leading WT20I batsman in the world. Mandhana hit 90 in her first appearance at this year’s Women’s T20 Challenge at the IPL and was in excellent form for India before that.
Deepti Sharma: Ranked second in the world WODI all-rounder rankings, the off-spinner has become India’s frontline spin bowler and took 4-14 for the IPL Trailblazers in her most recent major appearance.
Heather Knight: After a chastening Ashes series, the England and Western Storm captain may feel she has a point to prove. Her quality at her best is undoubted, however.
WS Team Form
Western Storm finished second last season after six wins from ten games but failed to make the final after losing to Surrey Stars in their play-off match. The Stars posted 162/5 and, despite Fran Wilson’s unbeaten 58, the Storm could only reach 153/6 in reply.
Western Storm Predicted Playing 11
Rachael Priest (wk), Smriti Mandhana, Heather Knight (c), Fran Wilson, Sophie Luff, Deepti Sharma, Naomi Dattani, Sonia Odedra, Claire Nicholas, Anya Shurbsole, Freya Davies
Loughborough Lightning vs Western Storm Head to Head
Western Storm have beaten Loughborough Lightning three times compared to the Lightning’s two wins, though it was the latter in dominant form when they last met.
The first of last season’s matches was shortened to six overs by the rain and Smriti Mandhana’s unbeaten 52 from 19 balls led the Storm to an 18-run win. When they next met, however, the Storm were restricted to 124/6 and Australia’s Rachael Haynes led the Lightning to a nine-wicket win, hitting an unbeaten 66 from 40 balls.
LBL vs WS Head to Head Stats
| Matches Played |
LBL Won |
WS Won |
Tie |
No Result |
| 5 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
Loughborough Lightning vs Western Storm Betting Odds
Western Storm start as favourites for this match at Loughborough.
LT Bet365 Odds
- LT to Win the Match: Loughborough Lightning are 2.10 outsiders to win their opening game on home soil against Western Storm.
- LT Top Batsman: Big-hitting new signing Hayley Matthews is 3.25 favourite to be Loughborough’s top batsman, while Chamari Atapattu is 4.00 and Georgia Adams is 4.50. Mignon du Preez can be backed at 6.50.
- LT Top Bowler: Matthews is 4.33 to be Loughborough’s top bowler too. Georgia Elwiss and last season’s top wicket-taker Kirstie Gordon are both 4.50.
WS Bet365 Odds
- WS to Win the Match: Western Storm are 1.72 favourites to beat the Lightning in their opening game with Bet365.
- WS Top Batsman: In outstanding form last season, Smriti Mandhana is 3.25 to be Western Storm’s top batsman again with Bet365. Rachael Priest is 4.50, while Heather Knight can be backed at 4.00 and Fran Wilson at a generous 8.00.
- WS Top Bowler: Anya Shrubsole is 3.50 favourite to be Western Storm’s top bowler, while new spin-bowling all-rounder Deepti Sharma can be backed at 4.00. Freya Davies is 4.50, meanwhile.
🏆 Loughborough Lightning vs Western Storm Prediction
Western Storm have strengthened an already fiercely strong line-up and they look like the team to beat this season. They can start with a win against last season’s table toppers.
Aug 06, 2019
19:00 IST / 13:30 GMT
Haslegrave Ground - Loughborough, England
Womens Super League 
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