WESTERN Storm batter Sophie Luff described winning the Kia Super League with her side as “the best day of her career so far."

The Storm defeated Surrey Stars by three wickets in the last four and saw off reigning champions Southern Vipers by seven wickets on finals day at Hove last Friday, with Luff guiding the side to glory with an unbeaten 30.

Reflecting on the day, she said: “It was amazing to be a part of.

“We didn’t play the cricket we wanted to for a lot of the tournament and obviously had a difficult start [Storm were bowled out for 70 in their opening match], but we battled through and it all came together in the final.

“Preisty [Rachel Priest, who struck 72 in the final] has been outstanding recently and set the tone, and for me personally it was special to be there at the end.

“I was determined to see it through with Stafanie [Taylor], who I really enjoy batting with.”

Taylor and Priest add the overseas shine to a side with a West Country core, a blend Luff hailed as a key part of their success.

“Different people have stepped up at different times,” she said.

“We really feel like a team, and the non-international players such as Claire Nicholas, who opened the bowling with her spin, have excelled.”

As for her own role, Luff’s knock in the final mirrored similar efforts in the victories over Loughborough and Lancashire during the group stage and have seen her earmarked as a ‘finisher’.

On this, she said: “I was reading a report which described me as a ‘big-hitting finisher’ and I had a bit of a laugh with my Dad about it, as I’ve never really been seen as that before.

“However, it’s a role that seems to suit me and it’s nice to have the responsibility of seeing the team over the line.”

Looking ahead, Luff – who has also captained Somerset’s women to promotion from Division 2 of the County Championship in a memorable summer – is pleased about the expansion of the Super League in 2018.

“There will be 10 group matches, meaning we can play everyone home and away,” she said.

“This can only keep growing the profile of women’s cricket, while it also gives us an opportunity to play more home games and hopefully perform in front of more good crowds.”

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LUFF’S Somerset & Western Storm team-mate, Anya Shrubsole, is expected to be among the contenders for the Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year award in association with Vitality – click here to nominate her.

To find out more about the award, see the video below.