Rachel Priest happy to play second fiddle as Western Storm go in search of Kia Super League title

If further proof was needed of Priest's selfless approach, it was provided in abundance by her contribution to Thursday's emphatic nine-wicket bonus-point victory over Yorkshire Diamonds at York

Rachel Priest is prepared to put the interests of her team-mates ahead of personal ambition when Western Storm resume their quest for Kia Super League Finals Day qualification against Lancashire Thunder at Chester on Sunday.

Intent upon regaining the place she lost two years ago at the top of New Zealand's batting order, the 34-year-old Kiwi knows how important it is for her to hit top form during the English summer.

Yet she is prepared to subjugate her stated objective of returning to the international stage to help Storm become the first side to win the KSL twice.

If further proof was needed of Priest's selfless approach, it was provided in abundance by her contribution to Thursday's emphatic nine-wicket bonus-point victory over Yorkshire Diamonds at York.

Opening the batting with prolific Indian left-hander Smriti Mandhana, Storm's long-serving wicketkeeper-batswoman was content to play second fiddle in pursuit of a victory target of 152.

Recognising that Mandhana was in outstanding form and timing the ball supremely well on a true pitch, Priest did everything in her power to keep her fellow overseas recruit on strike at the expense of her own personal goals.

Priest contributed only eight of the first 58 runs scored as Mandhana raced to a 29-ball half-century, only dominating the strike and hitting out herself once the India international had departed in the 14th over.

"A couple of years ago, I would probably have worried about the situation and tried to get more of the strike earlier in the innings, but I just laughed. Smriti was going so well, I was happy to sit back and just watch her," explained Priest, who accelerated sufficiently during the latter overs to register an unbeaten 72 from 43 balls.

"I was on about eight and she had already scored 50 or something. But you have to put the partnership first and think about the team score. So long as that's ticking over, then I'm happy these days.

"When she's playing like that, I just try and give her the strike and not worry too much about my own scoring. I always get a couple of loose balls to get me going eventually and, as you saw today, I caught up in the end.

"It's a partnership that works well, because we hit to different areas, and if it's winning us games, then there's no reason to change things."

Top of the table after winning their opening five games, Storm look a surefire bet to make it to Finals Day for a fourth year in succession. Sunday's clash with Thunder at Boughton Hall is followed by back-to-back home games against Southern Vipers at Bristol and Surrey Stars at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

Quite clearly, Storm captain Heather Knight and her team-mates are setting their sights on winning the group and securing a place in the final at Hove on September 1.

"Things would have to go pretty wrong for us not to get to Finals Day, but in T20 cricket, you can never say never," cautioned Priest. "We just need to keep building from here, and there are things we can still improve on.

"Our bowling was a bit loose (against Yorkshire) and we dropped too many catches (against Loughborough Lightning) the other day, so there are things to work on. There are also some very good teams in this competition, so we need to keep our wits about us.

"It's hard to say, but this is probably the strongest (Storm) side I've played in. We're chasing games and defending totals really well and this is just such a well-balanced side."

With no new injuries to report, Storm are expected to name an unchanged side against Thunder.

Report courtesy of the ECB Reporters Network

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