The Hundred Final (W) – Southern Brave vs Oval Invincibles at Lord’s on 3 September (15h00)
Oval Invincibles won The Hundred Women’s trophy for a second time, beating Southern Brave by 5 wickets. Previously, both teams lost one match during the group stage, but were not drawn to play against each other until now. POTM match hero was Marizanne Kapp, whom commentators said had been ‘at or near the top of women’s ranking’ for a long time. Marizanne Kapp also received POTM award in last year’s final. This year, top-scoring with 37* runs ’not out’ (from 33 balls); taking 1/19 from 20 balls; and also bagging a catch. Kapp told TV viewers that she ‘loved the tournament,’ ‘everyone contributed’ (in the team); and maybe she ‘should have been out a few times.’ Also, Kapp mentioned Emily Windsor who ’took pressure off at the end.’ Separately, Marizanne Kapp thanked everyone for supporting Invincibles through the tournament and also women’s cricket. Match was broadcast via SKY Sports YouTube channel – please see below – with Kass Naidoo, Ebony Rainford-Brent, Zainab Abbas, Simon Doull (NZ), Nasser Hussain, Kevin Pietersen and guests Chris Broad plus Eoin Morgan. Also ESPN-cric-info (Andrew Miller, Matt Roller); BBC ’No Balls’ co-hosted by Alex Hartley and other social media. Weather was ‘ideal conditions’ at Lord’s.
Brave’s Innings:
Skipper Anya Shrubsole. *Overall, only eight ‘fours’ were scored and no ’sixes.’ *’Top guns’ Danni Wyatt 15(16) and Smriti Mandana 17(21) both started cautiously. *Especially so for Wyatt, having received ducks in both the Eliminator as well as one from last year’s final against the same team. *Immediately after the power play (31/0) Wyatt was ‘beaten for pace,’ ballooning a leg-side return catch to bowler Shabnim Ismail. *Smriti Mandana was also caught-and-bowled, by Sophia Smale. *Nasser Hussain pointed out that Brave needed to be more consistent after their ’top guns’ didn’t fire. *Only two other batters made double-figures. *At mid-way, Brave were 51/2. *Strategic-time-out was called after 60 balls on 63/2 *Brave’s middle-order collapsed from 83/2 to 94/7 as Invincibles took five wickets; resulting in below-par score. *Australia’s Tahlia McGrath 20(17) was clean-bowled full-length, played-on via pads (inside edge) from Eva Gray. *Two balls later, top-scorer Sophia Dunkley 26(22) was caught by keeper Lauren Winfield-Hill, from Alice Capsey. *After another two balls, Georgia Adams went for a second-ball duck, caught by Marizanne Kapp from Eva Gray’s ‘drifting ball.’ *Seven balls later, Freya Kemp 2(5) was skittled by Shabnim Ismail. *With ten balls remaining, Amanda-Jade Wellington 2(4) was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Suzie Bates from Marizanne Kapp. *Just four runs came from Eva Gray’s death over. *Maia Bouchier (9*) and Anya Shrubsole (2*) remained ‘not not’ at the close on single figures.
Invincibles Innings:
Skipper Suzie Bates. *After an equally cautious start, opener Lauren Winfield-Hill 5(6) was stumped by keeper Carla Rudd, from Anya Shrubsole (1/17). *During the power play, *Alice Capsey 25(17) hit the first ’six’ and played a ‘vital’ cameo, with Suzie Bates 3(6) as anchor. After 25-balls power play Invincibles were 30/1 (vs 31/0.) *Next ball, the tournament’s leading wicket-taker Amanda-Jade Wellington was brought into the attack. *First ball, Alice Capsey was dropped at ‘mid-off’ by Smriti Mandhana, after three attempts. *Two balls later, Suzie Bates was bowled off her legs by Amanda-Jade Wellington (2/25.) *Four balls later, Capsey reverse-swept Georgia Adams (1/13) onto her stumps. *Commentators perceived match advantage swung away from Invincibles, having lost two quick wickets. *At mid-way, Invincibles were 59/4 (vs 51/2) *Two more wickets fell quickly when Mady Villiers 10(10) to Lauren Bell (1/14); and Kira Chathli 2(6) to Wellington. *Strategic-time-out was called after 65 balls on 77/4 with 25 runs needed. *Comparisons were misleading as retrospectively, Brave suffered a sudden five-wicket loss at a similar stage. *Marizanne Kapp 37*(33) saw the run-chase through, partnered by Emily Windsor 13*(15) adding 27 runs. *Emily Windsor also hit the winning ’four’ with six balls remaining.
Summary
Brave posted a score, below-par for women playing at Lord’s (113.) Commentators pointed out an explanation that Brave’s home pitch was easier to score from. ’Top gun’ batters had suffered low scores in two previous matches and were ‘extremely cautious,’ resulting in a low power-play score. Summarising the innings, Kevin Pietersen said that Invincibles ‘applied pressure’ with ’smart field settings,’ ‘good catching;’ pointing out that ‘great catches win matches.’ Five wickets fell from the last 26 deliveries, adding 18 runs. For Invincibles, ‘the job was half done.’ Invincibles reply sought to score at one-run-per-ball, made easier by twelve ‘fours’ and one ’six.’ Following the match, Invincibles players collected their ‘back-to-back’ trophy and received winners medals. Winning skipper Suzie Bates felt ‘overwhelmed’ praising the ‘whole squad’ (especially) South Africans (Marizanne, Shabnim and Dane) who won last year. Separately, POTT Player of the tournament was awarded to Natalie Sciver, (Rockets.) Top-of-bowling-leaderboard, Australia’s Amanda-Jade Wellington finished the tournament taking a record 17 wickets.
Result: Oval Invincibles Women 105/5 beat Southern Brave Women 101/7 by 5 wickets (and 6 balls remaining)
Brave batting: 101/7 (from 100 balls @1.01 runs-per-ball) Sophia Dunkley 26(22), Tahlia McGrath 20(17), Smriti Mandana 17(21), Danni Wyatt 15(16); Invincibles bowling: Shabnim Ismail 2/12, Alice Capsey 2/17, Eva Gray 1/12, Marizanne Kapp 1/19, Sophia Smale 1/25; Fow 1-33, 2-39, 3-83, 4-84, 5-84, 6-89, 7-94; Invincibles batting: 105/5 (from 94/100 balls @1.11 runs-per-ball; target 102 from 100 balls); Marizanne Kapp 37(33), Alice Capsey 25(17), Emily Windsor 13*(15), Mady Villiers 10(10); Brave bowling: Amanda-Jade Wellington 2/25, Georgia Adams 1/13, Lauren Bell 1/14, Anya Shrubsole 1/17. Fow 1-6, 2-33, 3-33, 4-59, 4-78.
Scorecard & Statistics at URL: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/the-hundred-women-s-competition-2022-1299144/oval-invincibles-women-vs-southern-brave-women-final-1299170/full-scorecard
Match highlights free-to-air from SKY Sports YouTube [8m01] at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17dMsgYOkr0
Match video free-to-air from SKY Sports YouTube [27m13/03h23m00s] at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyrY6TYVPj4
