Image Credit- Getty
A boisterous 17,810 spectators watched Oval Invincibles and London Spirit tie a thrilling last-ball thriller at Lord’s in the Hundred. A cool Charlie Dean run-out prevented the visitors from winning what had appeared to be a straightforward match when Ryana MacDonald-Gay and Jo Gardner went for the game-winning two with the last ball.
The outstanding all-around efforts of two international players, Deepti Sharma of India (taking 3 for 18 after scoring 44 for Spirit) and Marizanne Kapp of South Africa (performing for the Invincibles with a 4 for 11 and a quickfire 47), energised both teams.
“It was good up until I got out: it cost us the game so I’m very disappointed,” Kapp said. “The plan was to stay in there and take it as deep as possible. We knew they were going to bowl their best bowlers, so I was just trying to knock it around.”
The choice to bowl first by Oval Invincibles skipper Lauren Winfield-Hill was validated right away when Kapp bowled Meg Lanning on the fourth ball. Although Cordelia Griffith and Georgia Redmayne gave good answers, Kapp bowled both hitters before the Powerplay limitations were lifted.
After bowling Dani Gibson, MacDonald-Gay maintained the momentum for the Invincibles. Then, with the last ball of her stint, Kapp struck again, dismissing Heather Knight cleanly for her fourth innings-long wicket.
Leading the comeback was Deepti, who scored a steady 44 off of 34. The Spirit managed to reach 113 for 9 with the help of Dean and Eva Grey, who provided her with excellent support. Sophia Smale claimed two wickets in a row to help the chase down the run total.
Spirit responded by bringing out both openers early. Redmayne kept a strong hold throughout, catching wickets when needed. Eva Grey had Winfield-Hill stumped after being caught off the bowl of Tara Norris.
The Invincibles were then headed by Kapp, who crushed a sweep-heavy 47 from 32. Before Deepti bowled Alice Capsey (31 from 19), she and the batswoman put on an impressive 55-run partnership.
The Invincibles’ chase became more difficult when Dean made an incredible catch off Deepti’s bowl to remove Paige Scholfield. The England offspinner then dismissed Mady Villiers, and Sarah Glenn cleverly ran Amanda-Jade Wellington out, leaving the visitors six wickets down and needing 32 from 32.
After a solid partnership with Gardner, Deepti bowled Kapp when just four runs out of eight were needed. With Gibson holding her composure with the ball and Dean finding Redmayne with a nice throw from deep, MacDonald-Gay and Gardner were just unable to get their side home. This left MacDonald-Gay well short of her ground as they searched for the two runs they needed from the final ball.