WESTERN Storm's poor form continued into T20 cricket, as they lost by seven wickets at home to Sunrisers in Group B of the Charlotte Edwards Cup at Taunton on Saturday.

Coming into this tournament on the back of three straight defeats in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy (50-over), Storm never really recovered from the loss of early wickets and had to settle for a below-par 129-6.

Mady Villers (36) and Grace Scrivens (34*) top scored for the visitors as they reached their target with 14 deliveries to spare, registering their first success since their formation in 2019.

Deprived of England stars Heather Knight and Anya Shrubsole, Storm opened their innings brightly enough, but then succumbed to a clatter of wickets as they were reduced to 49-5 inside 12 overs.

Sonali Patel (2-26) removed Fi Morris and Danielle Gibson with successive deliveries in the fifth over, and panic appeared to have set in when Georgia Hennessy (18) was run out in a mix-up with Sophie Luff.

Relief for the hosts came in the form of a restorative stand of 42 in 5.2 overs between Luff and Nat Wraith, who found the gaps regularly enough to apply pressure for the first time.

But then Luff was lured onto the front foot and stumped by Amara Carr when on 31.

Wraith (36*) did share an unbroken stand of 36 with Lauren Parfitt (15*), but their strong finish was to prove too little, too late.

Former Storm players Naomi Dattani (22) and Alice Macleod (13) gave Sunrisers' reply the perfect start, adding 39 inside six overs.

Building upon those foundations, Scrivens and Villers staged a decisive third-wicket stand of 45, in eight overs.

Gibson clean bowled Villiers with an in-swinging yorker, but Scrivens and Carr (18*) were comfortable in reaching the finish line.

Storm head coach Mark O'Leary said afterwards: “It’s not the start we were after.

"We’ve lost the game and we just weren’t good enough today.

"I think it’s important to take some positives from it, and it was great to see Alex Griffiths back playing.

"She bowled really well today, and it was good to see Emily Edgcombe back as well.

"We didn’t get enough partnerships going and weren’t dynamic enough overall.

"I’m confident that we’ll bounce back quickly, and we go again next week."

Storm's next match is away to Thunder, next Sunday (July 4, 11am), at Chester Boughton Hall CC.