SOUTHERN Vipers’ Kia Super League campaign began with an impressive seven-wicket win over Surrey Stars at Guildford.

Tammy Beaumont, who made an unbeaten 62 on her Vipers debut after leaving Surrey, led her side to their 142-run target with three overs to spare.

Batting at three, England opener Beaumont produced some typically aggressive shots as Vipers recovered from 21-2 to race to victory.

She added 99 in 11 overs with Mignon du Preez (48 off 31 balls), who was stumped in the 15th over with Vipers only needing 22.

Beaumont hit ten boundaries in 45 balls and was one of several to impress the watching England head coach Mark Robinson.

Surrey’s 141-8 always looked light on a lightning-fast outfield.

That they at least got a competitive score was largely down to a superb 66 off 43 balls from Sophia Dunkley. Six days after her 20th birthday Dunkley played an innings of great maturity after coming in with her side 18-4 after four overs.

Dunkley and Dane van Niekerk, one of Surrey’s three South Africans, added 63 in 9.4 overs with Dunkley the dominant partner.

It was a surprise when she fell in the 18th over, one of three leg-side catches by Danni Wyatt.

Like Dunkley, Van Niekerk (31) fell to Fi Morris (4-22). The off-spinner’s first victim was Surrey captain Nat Sciver, who mis-timed a drive to mid-off in the fourth over. Tash Farrant (3-16)picked up wickets in her first two overs. On a pitch offering good pace and carry, she swung the new ball impressively, bowling Lizelle Lee off an inside edge and then claiming the prized scalp of Sarah Taylor (6), who was bowled through the gate on her Surrey debut.

With Amelia Kerr removing Bryony Smith in the second over, Vipers made an excellent start. Dunkley and van Niekerk repaired the damage but were not allowed to score at more than seven an over.

Surrey dismissed openers Wyatt, bowled through the gate, and captain Suzie Bates, brilliantly caught at backward point, in the first four overs. But that was as good as it got for the Stars.