Trent Rockets vs Oval Invincibles at Nottingham (Trent Bridge) on 14 August 2024;
Spectators witnessed ‘great drama’ in which a ‘dog fight’ was said by the winning skipper to decide which team played the Eliminator, with Fire lying-in-wait for the tournament’s final. Batting first on a ‘dry pitch’ with ‘plenty of turn on offer’ and ‘quick outfield,’ and Rockets’ wickets fell at regular intervals – with one ‘catch-of-the-tournament’ by Ryana MacDonald-Gay. Only two Rockets batters posted double-figures (Ash Gardner & Nat Wraith.) Marizanne Kapp (pictured) took three wickets, hit Invincibles’ top-score [26*undefeated (from 24 balls).] Marizanne Kapp also scored the winning runs: ‘four’ said to be ‘placed perfectly’ between ‘deep-mid-wicket’ and ‘long-off;’ immediately followed by the winning ‘two.’ Receiving POTM ‘Meerkat match hero cap-and-medal, Marizanne Kapp said the situation was both ‘stressful and familiar,’ having encountered similar scenarios playing cricket around-the-world for the last fifteen years. Commentators added that half of all balls bowled by Invincibles were in sets-of-ten, that set a ‘new record’ for the number of sets-of-ten balls bowled in an innings during a Women’s Hundred match. That resulted in a low-score with the required-run-rate for both teams on par (around one run-per-ball.) Invincibles advance to play the Eliminator in a London-derby (versus Spirit); whereas Rockets season was ended. With a golden ticket to play the final, Welsh Fire find their own situation is a reversal of last year when they were last-placed ‘spoonists.’ Introduced for SKY Sports by Natalie Germanos (broadcaster & actress from Rep. South Africa TV); with Charles Dagnall (broadcaster & former county player), Eoin Morgan CBE (broadcaster & former England international), Nasser Hussain OBE (broadcaster & former England international) Lydia Greenway OBE (broadcaster & former England international), Mark Butcher (former England international.) Also with guest commentators Katherine Sciver-Brunt OBE and Kate Cross (England International) and Stuart Broad CBE (former England International.)
*Rockets’ innings: skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt, with international players: Ashleigh ‘Ash’ Gardner, Heather Graham & Alana King (all Australia); *[Lauren Winfield-Hill keeping wicket for Invincibles]; *Grace Scrivens was bowled by Marizanne Kapp’s delivery that skidded and ‘kept low,’ for a fifth-ball duck; *Two balls later Bryony Smith was caught by Mady Villiers’s exceptional ‘goalkeeper’ dive ‘with good landing’, from Marizanne Kapp’s bowling; *’Massive blow’ when Nat Sciver-Brunt missed a ‘full shot,’ and was bowled by Rachel Slater, ‘middle-and-off for a fourth-ball duck;’ *After 25 balls ‘power-play’ 15/3; *Nat Wraith played across-the-line, with leg-stump flattened by Marizanne Kapp ‘without celebration;’ *Strategic-time-out was called at mid-way (50 balls) on 56/4; *Stand-out batter Ash Gardner was caught-and-bowled by Mady Villiers; *Heather Graham played across-the-line, bowled by Rachel Slater; *Katie George ‘miscued’ to backward-point,’ caught by diving Ryana MacDonald-Gay, from Sophia Smale; *Josie Groves was caught-and-bowled ‘from Botton edge,’ by Sophia Smale for a third-ball duck; *Rockets’ batting: Ashleigh ‘Ash’ Gardner 43(26), Nat Wraith 14(14); *Invincibles’ bowling: Marizanne Kapp 3/8, Rachel Slater 2/15, Sophia Smale 2/17, Mady Villiers 1/17;
*Invincibles’ innings: *skipper Lauren Winfield-Hill, with international players Chamari Athapathatu (Sri Lanka); Amanda-Jade Wellington (Australia); Also Marizanne Kapp (Rep. South Africa); [Nat Wraith keeping wicket for Rockets]; *Chamari Athapathatu was caught at ‘long-off by Heather Graham from Ash Gardner. *After 25 balls ‘power-play’ 25/1 (vs 15/0); Drama struck when Alice Capsey was given ‘out,’ as ‘leg-before’ on pitch, but came back anticipating the technology (ultra-edge) would prove otherwise. Umpire’s decision was reversed and ‘good-sports-person-ship’ won the day; Lauren Winfield-Hill went ‘leg-before’ to Heather Graham; *Next ball, Alice Capsey departed when bowled by Alana King’s ’Shane Warne’ ball; *At mid-way (50 balls) 45/3 (vs 56/4) with par spike rate to win (47 runs were needed from 50 balls); Invincibles’ match-winning partnership between Marizanne Kapp and Paige Scholfield added 51 runs. *Paige Scholfield was caught aerial at ‘mid-wicket’ by Alexa Stonehouse from Kirstie Gordon; *Five balls later, Mady Villiers was stumped by Nat Wraith from Ash Gardner; *As mentioned above, Marizanne Kapp scored ‘four’ followed by the the winning ‘two;’ *Invincibles’ batting: Marizanne Kapp 26*not out(24), Paige Scholfield 26(24) Chamari Athapathatu 16(17), Alice Capsey 10(14); *Rockets bowling: Ashleigh ‘Ash’ Gardner 2/23, Kirstie Gordon 1/9; Heather Graham 1/17, Alana King 1/19;
Match result: Oval Invincibles 92/5 (1.0 run-per-ball, target 92 from 94/100) beat Trent Rockets 91/8 (0.9 runs-per-ball, from 100/100) by five wickets and with six balls remaining
*Match (please also see footnote) with edited highlights courtesy of SKY Sports Cricket free-to-air via YouTube [03h19m55s] @url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P-9evpk494
*Results with link to match centre for edited highlights courtesy of The Hundred (Women) @url https://www.thehundred.com/results?year=2024
*Fixtures @url https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/3801564/the-hundred-2024-fixtures