LAUREN Winfield spoke of a season of progression after her Yorkshire Diamonds side missed out on a place at the Kia Super League Finals Day yesterday.

Yorkshire were beaten by defending champions and this year’s table- toppers Southern Vipers at Arundel as they attempted to chase 139.

After the Vipers made 138-6, the Diamonds were bowled out for 108 in the 19th over, leaving the Western Storm to take the third place at Friday’s Finals Day with a win over Lancashire Thunder at Bristol.

The Diamonds won two and lost three, and they were also overtaken in the table by Loughborough Lightning, who beat Surrey Stars at The Oval.

Winfield and co finished fourth in the table, the same position as last year, but with one more win under their belts.

“It’s been an up and down tournament,” said the captain, "but we are a better side than 12 months ago.

“It’s important now that we have a good winter with some honest reflections on where we need to improve and come back stronger next year.”

Yorkshire had their chances yesterday afternoon.

They had the hosts at 78-4 in the 13th over before South African international Mignon du Preez hit an unbeaten 35-ball fifty.

Leg-spinner Katie Levick finished with 3-21 from her four overs, including the early wicket of the tournament’s stand-out player, Suzie Bates from New Zealand.

The visitors then got off to a flyer in reply thanks to Sri Lankan Chamari Atapattu (21).

However, she was one of five wickets to fall for four runs as the score fell from 31-0 in the fourth to 35-5 in the seventh, having hit two sixes.

Katherine Brunt’s 42 off 30 balls with eight fours raised hopes of a come-from-behind win, but she was run out backing up by bowler Bates to leave the score at 100-7 in the 17th and end their race.

“They probably got a few too many in their total,” added Winfield, "but we fancied our chances of chasing 139, especially as we knew that someone who hadn’t bowled too much would have to bowl a few overs because Linsey Smith wasn’t able to play.

“We got off to a good start but lost too many wickets quickly.

“Katherine got us back in it, but when she was run out it really stung us because I always felt when she was at the crease we had a chance.”

Storm face Surrey in the afternoon game at Hove on Friday for the right to play Vipers in the evening final.