Kia Super League final: Southern Vipers 145-5 lost to Western Storm 151-3 by seven wickets

Southern Vipers captain Charlotte Edwards announced her retirement from professional cricket after last night’s Kia Super League final defeat at Hove.

An explosive innings from Rachel Priest set up an easy victory for Western Storm, who avenged their defeat in last season’s final.

In front of a 3,500 crowd at Hove, Priest became the tournament’s leading run scorer with a 36-ball 72 as Storm reached a target of 146 with 12 balls to spare.

The New Zealander unleashed ten fours and three sixes, including a brutal 25-run assault on Linsey Smith in the final over of the powerplay.

Priest overtook Vipers’ Suzie Bates as leading run-scorer when she reached 71.

She was well caught on the mid-wicket boundary by Danni Wyatt off Romsey’s Katie George (3-0-34-1) in the tenth over, but Storm only needed 52.

Stafanie Taylor, man of the match in their semi-final win over Surrey Stars, and Sophie Luff had little trouble in knocking off the runs, although Taylor had to bat with a runner after suffering a hamstring strain earlier in her innings.

They shared an unbroken stand of 57 with Taylor clearing the long-on rope to win the game.

Edwards said: “Western Storm played brilliantly, it was a fantastic innings by Rachel Priest.

“I think I’d like to play some county cricket but in terms of this competition and playing overseas this is it, my time is done.

"I want to pursue other things such as coaching and perhaps some media work. I am happy and content with what I have achieved in my career, I have loved every minute of it."