Oval Invincibles vs Southern Brave at the Kia Oval on 14 August (14h30)
Brave were said to be ‘the better team,’ winning the sixth women’s match of ‘The Hundred’ with ‘a complete all-round performance.’ POTM match hero Georgia Adams (pictured) took two decisive wickets, clean-bowling her opponent’s two highest scorers: Marizanne Kapp and Lauren Winfield-Hill. Adams later told Australian commentator Lisa Sthalekar that Winfield-Hill’s dismissal was ‘probably the best ball (she’d) ever bowled.’ Commentators explained reasons for Brave’s skipper Anya Shrubsole’s use of ‘part-time bowlers’ (Georgia Adams, Danni Wyatt and Sophia Dunkley): that proved to be a successful strategy. Debutante Tahlia McGrath was commended for ’not giving anything away’ with her death over to secure the win. Match was broadcast via SKY Sports YouTube channel – please see below – with Charles Dagnall, Lisa Sthalekar (Aus), Kumar Sangakarra (Sri Lanka), Lydia Greenway and Alex Tudor. Also, ESPN-cric-info and other social media. Weather at the Oval was a hot summer’s afternoon, with high clouds 25-30C.
Brave Innings Skipper Anya Shrubsole said that Australia’s gold medallist Talhia McGrath was cleared to play and beefed-up by commentators as ‘one of the best white-ball players.’ *Brave’s openers India’s Smriti Mandhana 46(25) and Danni Wyatt 14(16) posted 43 runs from the first 25 balls. *Wyatt was stumped by keeper Winfield-Hill, coming down the wicket to Sophia Smale (2/12). Smriti Mandhana fell to a mirror image of Wyatt’s stumping, six runs later, coming down the wicket to Mady Villiers (1/35). *Tahlia McGrath 5(5) was short-lived, caught by Kirstie White at ’short-third’ from Sophia Smale. *After 50 balls (mid-way) Brave were 77/3. *Ryana Macdonald-Gay bowled an eventful first over, the first ball launched by Sophia Dunkley for ’six’ and she clean-bowled Maia Bouchier three balls later. *Next over Dunkley fell ‘leg before’ to Eva Gray. *Crucially, Freya Kemp and Georgia Adams sixth-wicket partnership added 45 runs from 24 balls. *No further wickets fell until Marizanne Kapp’s death over, with three ‘run outs.’ *Firstly, Freya Kemp (24) fell to a direct hit from South African Shabnim Ismail. *Finally, both Georgia Adams (18) and Lauren Bell (1) were both ‘run out’ in similar fashion by Kira Chathli’s return throws from ’square leg’ to keeper Lauren Winfield-Hill.
Invincibles Innings Stand-in skipper Suzie Bates (NZ) said that Aylish Cranstone was playing for Alice Capsey, who’d sustained an ankle injury during the previous match. Suzie Bates 15(16) was caught ‘easily’ at mid-wicket by Danni Wyatt, from Lauren Bell. Lauren Winfield-Hill 25(25) was ‘clean bowled’ by Georgia Adams. *South Africa’s All-rounder Marizanne Kapp 19(11) made an undignified exit by slamming the turf, also clean-bowled by Georgia Adams. *After 50 balls (mid-way) Invincibles were 68/3. *Middle-order collapse lost three quick wickets. *Firstly, Mady Villiers (6) lost her middle-stump to Amanda-Jade Wellington. *Secondly, reserve keeper Kira Chathli (3) ballooned a catch to Maia Bouchier at ‘cover,’ from Danni Wyatt’s first ball. *Thirdly, Kirstie White (9) was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Smriti Mandhana, from Sophia Dunkley; two balls after hitting Dunkley for ’six.’ *Three balls later, Aylish Cranstone (18) went ‘leg before’ to Danni Wyatt. *Thereafter, Ryana Macdonald-Gay and Eva Gray struck three sixes between them, from Australians Wellington and McGrath; but fell short by two more ‘sixes’ needed to win.
Summary Invincibles struggled against Brave women’s record score at the Oval, without South African skipper Dane van Niekerk and England’s teenage star Alice Capsey. Brave’s openers India’s Smriti Mandhana and Danni Wyatt posted 43 runs from the first 25 balls. At mid-way Brave were 77/3. *Ryana Macdonald-Gay bowled an eventful first over, the first ball went for ’six’ and she took a wicket three balls later. Crucially, Freya Kemp and Georgia Adams added 45 runs from 24 balls for the sixth wicket. Brave suffered three ‘run outs’ during their final over. For Invincibles, Suzie Bates was caught ‘easily’ at mid-wicket. Lauren Winfield-Hill was ‘clean bowled’ by match hero Georgia Adams. *Marizanne Kapp was also bowled by Georgia Adams. After 50 balls (mid-way) Invincibles were 68/3 (vs 77/3). Invincibles suffered middle order collapse, losing three quick wickets, that commentators believed cost them the match.
Result: Southern Brave Women 153/8 beat Oval Invincibles Women 141/7 by 12 runs
Brave’s batting: 153/8 (100 balls 1.53 runs-per-ball); Smriti Mandhana 46(25), Freya Kemp 24(16), Georgia Adams 18(13), Danni Wyatt 14(16), Maia Bouchier 13(10), Sophia Dunkley 13(16); Invincibles’ bowling: Sophia Smale 2/12, Eva Gray 1/10, Ryana Macdonald-Gay 1/20, Mady Villiers 1/35; Fow 1-63, 2-69, 3-75,4-101, 5-103, 6-148, 7-152, 8-153.
Invincibles’ batting: 141/7 (100 balls 1.41 runs-per-ball, target 154 from 100 balls) Lauren Winfield-Hill 25(19), Marizanne Kapp 19(9), Ryana Macdonald-Gay 19*(13), Aylish Cranstone 18(21), Eva Gray 16*(12), Suzi Bates 15(8); Brave’s bowling: Georgia Adams 2/16 (20 balls), Danni Wyatt 2/16 (10 balls), Sophia Dunkley 1/8, Lauren Bell 1/27, Amanda-Jade Wellington 1/33; Fow 1-38, 2-44, 3-67,4-76, 5-81, 6-102, 7-103.
Scorecard & Statistics at URL: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/the-hundred-women-s-competition-2022-1299144/oval-invincibles-women-vs-southern-brave-women-6th-match-1299150/full-scorecard
Match video free-to-air from SKY Sports YouTube [30m00/3h27m25] at URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpjfKfmSQ14
