Trent Rockets vs Oval Invincibles at Nottingham (Trent Bridge) 17 August (15h30)
Drama struck during the ninth women’s match of ‘The Hundred’ when Australia’s Alana King (Commonwealth Games gold medallist) became the first bowler to bowl ten consecutive ’dot’ balls when attempting to get Rockets back into the match. POTM match hero was Suzie Bates (Invincibles): skipper for the winning side, scoring 41 runs (from 32 balls). Suzie Bates told Nasser Hussain that she was delighted to be leading a new team as it kept her thinking about the players. Also, she had plenty of experience having skippered for NZ. Match was broadcast via SKY Sports YouTube channel – please see below – with Ebony Rainford-Brent, Eoin Morgan, Nasser Hussain, Dominic Cork with guest Tammy Beaumont. Also BBC 5LSX, ESPN-cric-info and other social media. Weather was changeable, with no stoppages for rain.
Rockets Innings Skipper Natalie Sciver. No changes. *Bryony Smith 10(11) slog-swept, caught-and-bowled by Sophia Smale; said to be an ‘excellent grab’ from a top-edge. *Rockets’ main partnership between Australia’s Elyse Villani 17(16) and Natalie Sciver 58*(48) chalked-up 33 runs. *After 25 balls power play Rockets were 27/1; and 51/1 by mid-way. *Elyse Villani was run-out by Suzie Bates throwing to Marizanne Kapp at the bowler’s end – signalled ‘out’ by on-field by Umpires; with late evidence displayed on the big screen (technical delay). *Strategic time-out was taken with drinks. *South Africa’s Mignon duPreez (10) was clean-bowled by Eva Gray (2/16). *Commentators noted that Mignon duPreez has a stance vulnerable to dead straight bowling, when taking strike. Eva Gray was commended for bowling with dead-straight accuracy. *Thereafter Rockets lost 5 wickets for 15 runs, leaving them some way short of a defendable score.*Australia’s Alana King (2) ballooned a catch to Mady Villiers at ‘cow corner,’ from Ryana Macdonald-Gay. *Marie Kelly (0) lobbed a dolly straight back to Alice Capsey, collected low-down to her left for a golden duck. *Next ball, Alice Capsey ran-out Katherine Brunt (1) by spilling her dropped catch from Natalie Sciver onto the non-striker’s stumps. *Realising she was out of her crease, partner Brunt stormed-off, making an undignified exit leaving Alice Capsey gobsmacked with hand-over-mouth. *Abi Freeborn (5) chopped Marizanne Kapp’s slower-ball onto her stumps. Sarah Glenn (1) was caught by Alice Capsey from Eva Gray’s low full-toss. *Commentators curse struck between innings, when Eoin Morgan miscalculated the target – later voiced-over for match highlights.
Invincibles Innings skipper Suzie Bates said that *Alice Capsey, was back. Dane vanNiekerk was unavailable to play, but seen watching, said to have discomfort from her ankle. *Nasser Hussain said that Rockets ‘were on their back foot’ and Natalie Sciver’s tactics would be to bowl her best bowlers ‘straight away.’ Lauren Winfield-Hill 5(7) was caught at mid-off by Sarah Glenn from Bryony Smith. By mid-way, Invincibles were ahead 70/1 (vs 51/1) needing 43 to win. *Alice Capsey 24(18) struck straight down the ground for ‘six’ but was caught short by Katherine Brunt, from Sarah Glenn. *Disaster struck as soon as Suzie Bates 41(32) chopped Sarah Glenn on to her stumps (at 80/3.) *Rockets were said to be ‘back-in-the-game’ as Alana King bowled ten ‘dot’ balls without conceding a run – a feat never before achieved in either tournament. *At that point (still 80/3) Invincibles required 33 runs from 30 balls. *Mady Villers (6) ballooned a catch to Sarah Glenn at mid-off from Bryony Smith; ‘trying to finish it off.’ *Kira Chathli (0) was clean-bowled by Bryony Smith with a bottom-edge for a fourth-ball duck. *Two balls later, Marizanne Kapp 34*(27) struck the winning ‘four’ from Bryony Smith’s death over, with one ball to spare.
Summary Failing to chalk-up a defendable score, Rockets started well with a partnership between skipper Sciver and Elyse Villani. Thereafter, six batters failed to make double-figures. In reply, POTM match hero Suzie Bates laid a good foundation by making top score for the winning team. Invincibles seemed certain of a comfortable win until Alana King bowled ten ‘dot’ balls – the first time achieved in either the women’s or men’s tournament, bringing the home crowd alive. Marizanne Kapp stepped-up to take Invincibles across-the-line for their second win. As the first two teams to play their third match, Invincibles have two wins and one loss, whereas Rockets have one win and two losses. Third-placed Invincibles (4 points) overtake fourth-placed Rockets (2 points.) After the match, Invincibles skipper (and NZ Commonwealth Games bronze medallist) Suzie Bates told reporters that her bowlers ‘did really well.’ Adding: It wasn’t easy to bat, and she was pleased to ‘soak up (spinners) pressure’ through the middle overs. Also that Marizanne Kapp was ‘outstanding.’
Result: Oval Invincibles Women 115/5 beat Welsh Fire Women 112/8 by 5 wickets with one ball remaining
Rockets batting: 112-8 (100 balls 1.12 runs-per-over) Natalie Sciver 59*(48), Elyse Villani 17(16), Mignon duPreez 10(11), Bryony Smith 10(11); Invincibles bowling: Eva Gray 2/16, Marizanne Kapp 1/18, Ryana Macdonald-Gay 1/10, Alice Capsey 1/21, Sophia Smale 1/24; Fow 1-12, 2-45, 3-75, 4-96, 5-96, 6-97, 7–105, 8-111
Invincibles batting: 115-5 (99/100 balls 1.16 runs-per-over) Suzie Bates 41(32), Marizanne Kapp 34*(27), Alice Capsey 24(18) Rockets bowling: Bryony Smith 3/21 , Sarah Glenn 2/29. Fow 1-26, 2-73, 3-80, 4-110, 5-110
Scorecard & Statistics at URL: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/the-hundred-women-s-competition-2022-1299144/trent-rockets-women-vs-oval-invincibles-women-9th-match-1299153/full-scorecard
Match highlights free-to-air from SKY Sports YouTube [06m05] at URL https://www.skysports.com/the-hundred/news/36890/12675291/the-hundred-alice-capsey-chips-in-on-injury-return-as-oval-invincibles-edge-past-trent-rockets
