Southern Brave vs Oval Invincibles at Southampton (The Ageas Bowl) on 19 August 2023
’Invincibles’ as double-champions’ were eliminated by ‘Brave’ as twice-finalists, said to be ‘more than up to their task’ (to win the tournament trophy at their third attempt.) A ‘fantastic game’ unfolded as left-and-right-handed batters scored 73 runs for Brave’s fourth wicket, undefeated; to win the match before their home crowd. POTM Meerkat Match Hero Georgia Adams made her first ‘fifty’ of the tournament (50*not out from 32 balls), with support from 18yo Freya Kemp (41*not out from 21 balls.) Commentators added that Freya Kemp had played ‘maturely’ when put under pressure. Separately, Freya Kemp became the youngest player to score an international ‘fifty’ for England at 20-overs (2022.) Playing her last home match before retirement, skipper/coach Anya Shrubsole added that she was ‘so pleased for Freya Kemp,’ who played an ‘unbelievable’ innings; adding that the tournament did well to ‘set players up’ for international cricket. Introduced for SKY TV by Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE (Director of Women’s cricket at Surrey), Alex Tudor & Nasser Hussain (ex-England); Simon Doull (NZ TV personality) & Kumar Sangakkara (ex-Sri Lanka skipper.) Weather was ‘perfect’ for cricket, the outfield doused by ‘coastal overnight rain.’
OI-W *Skipper Suzie Bates *[Brave keeper Rhianna Southby] *International players Marizanne Kapp & Nadine deKlerk replacing Dane vanNiekerk (all Rep. South Africa) Suzie Bates ex-skipper NZ with Alice Capsey (England); Paige Scholfield, Mady Villiers & Ryana Macdonald-Gay, Eva Gray (England ‘A’) Lauren Winfield-Hill (ex England keeper); Also Cordelia Griffith & Sophia Smale (England u-19’s) *Alice Capsey 0(2) was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Danni Wyatt for a second-ball ‘duck,’ from Lauren Bell’s 5th ball (1/35) *Lauren Winfield-Hill 2(6) was caught at ‘mid-on’ by Maia Bouchier from Anya Shrubsole’s 5th ball (1/19); On 6/2, ‘Invincibles’ fought back to 25/2 after 25 balls ‘Power-play,’ and 51/2 by mid-way. *Marizanne Kapp 27(22) was caught at ‘deep-backward-square’ by Chloe Tryon, from Maitlan Brown (1/8.) *Disaster struck when 3 wickets fell from the last 10 balls. *Firstly, Paige Scholfield 30(17) was caught at ‘long-on’ by Maia Bouchier’s diving catch, from Georgia Adams (1/23.) *Secondly, playing a ‘skipper’s innings,’ Suzie Bates 55(46), was ‘run-out’ by Georgia Adams’ direct hit to the non-stiker’s end. *Finally, Nadine deKlerk 5(5) was caught at ‘square leg,’ by Chloe Tryon, from Kalea Moore (1/25.) *Mady Villiers 1*not out(1) & Cordelia Griffith 1*not out(1) *Best ‘Invincibles’ batter was Suzie Bates 55(46.) *Best ‘Brave’ bowler was Maitlan Brown (1/8.)
SB-W *Skipper/coach Anya Shrubsole with unchanged side. [*Lauren Winfield-Hill keeping wicket for ‘Invincibles’] *Internationals Smriti Mandhana (India), Maitlan Brown (Australia WBBL) & Chloe Tryon (Rep. South Africa.) *England’s Danni Wyatt, Maia Bouchier & Freya Kemp. *Smriti Mandhana 2(5) was caught by Paige Scholfield from Marizanne Kapp (1/18) *After 25 balls ‘Power-play,’ ‘Brave’ were 21/1 (vs 25/2) next ball, Danni Wyatt 7(13) was bowled ‘through-the-gate’ by Nadine deKlerk (1/20.) ‘Strategic-time-out was taken after 45 balls (84 runs needed from 55 balls remaining.) *Maia Bouchier and Georgia Adams knew they needed to accelerate their strike rates to contain the required-run-rate, with 60 balls remaining. *At mid-way, scores were level-pegging on 51/2. *Maia Bouchier 22(25) was caught by Suzie Bates from Paige Scholfield (1/25.) *Freya Kemp 41*not out(21) hit the winning ‘six.’ *Best ‘Brave’ batter Georgia Adams was 50*not out(32) *Best ‘Invincibles’ bowler was Marizanne Kapp 1/18.
Match summary: A ‘magnificent’ performance by ‘Brave’ with ambition to win the tournament trophy at their third attempt. ‘Invincibles’ as double-defending champions. As mentioned above, a ‘fantastic’ game unfolded as Maia Bouchier and Georgia Adams knew they needed to accelerate their strike rates to contain the required-run-rate, with 60 balls remaining. Scores became level-pegging by mid-way. The match reached its climax with 25 balls remaining and 46 runs needed by Georgia Adams and Freya Kemp to chase-down their winnng score. Receiving from Simon Doull her POTM Meerkat Match Hero award with cap-and-medal, Georgia Adams she was ‘very happy’ to entertain the crowd by getting a win over ‘such a strong side.’ Separately as an ‘All-Rounder,’ Georgia Adams remained top of the tournament’s bowling leader-board, ahead of 2nd-placed South African Internationals Shabnim Ismail (‘Fire’) & Marizanne Kapp (‘invincibles.’) Commentators concluded that ‘Brave’ had ‘beaten their nemesis, who were almost ‘done-and-dusted’ for another year. With ‘Brave’ and ‘Superchargers’ already through to the finals, ‘Rockets’ are the only side with an outside chance of preventing Tammy Beaumont’s ‘Fire’ from qualifying in the last three. Latest teams table @URL https://www.thehundred.com/standings/
Match result: Southern Brave Women 132/3 beat Oval Invincibles Women 130/6 by seven wickets (with 4 balls remaining)
*’Invincibles’’ batting: 130/6 (from 100 balls @1.3 runs-per-ball); Suzie Bates 55(46), Paige Scholfield 30(17), Marizanne Kapp 27(22); *’Brave’s’ bowling: Maitlan Brown 1/8, Anya Shrubsole 1/19, Georgia Adams 1/23, Kalea Moore 1/25, Lauren Bell 1/35; Fow 1-4, 2-6, 3-59, 4-59, 5-122, 6-129.
*’Brave’s’ batting: 132/3 (from 96/100 balls @1.3 r-p-b); Georgia Adams 50*not out(32), Freya Kemp 41*not out(21), Maia Bouchier 22(25); *’Invincibles’’ bowling: Marizanne Kapp 1/18, Nadine deKlerk 1/20, Paige Scholfield 1/25; Fow 1-7, 2-21, 3-59.
*Scorecard courtesy of BBC Sport @URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/ECKE1000742
*Match highlights courtesy of Sky Sports @URL https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/12943416/brave-eliminate-reigning-champions