Virat Kohli's back problem, Mandhana leading her side to finals' day, and more - and more - Cricket News Today, August 12, 2018

#2 Mandhana-starring-Western Storms and Loughborough Lightning ease into the KSL 2018 Finals' day

In their eighth group-stage game of the Kia Super League (KSL), Loughborough Lightning easily chased Lancashire Thunder's 137-run target, thereby clinching their sixth win altogether. It also meant that the side will cruise on to the events' finals' day.

Rachael Haynes and Amy Ellen Jones put together an unbeaten 110-run stand for the second wicket to secure the win by nine wickets. Opting to bat first, Thunder got off to a steady start, but it ended soon, with Nicole Bolton (19), Georgie Boyce (38) and Amy Satterthwaite (47) getting out to reckless shots. Harmanpreet Kaur (4) failed to create any impact as well. Things soon went downhill, as the side finished at 136-for-7. In reply, Sophie Devine fell after a quick 12-ball-22, but Rachael (40*) and Amy (66*) completed the quest, with five overs remaining.

A washout in the subsequent Western Storms - Southern Vipers game after just 8.5 overs of play, confirmed Western Storm's advancement to the finals' day as well. The lack of a result in the game gave them two points, which they used to emerge table-toppers. With just two games each for every team in the KSL group stage, it is impossible for either Storms or Loughborough to be removed from the top-two spots.