On the same day as Sir Garry Sobers’s funeral, the Capital clash in the women’s Hundred at the Oval came down to two other Barbadians with Hayley Matthews bowling the last ball to Deandra Dottin. London Spirit batter Dottin needed three to win but she could only manage two and the match was tied, 152 runs each.
Remarkably in The Hundred 2024 MI London, previously known as Oval Invincibles, tied with the London Spirit. 113 each. Player of the Match Marizanne Kapp.
But with 27 needed off 20 and 12 off the last 10 balls you can’t help feeling that Spirit should have won with a degree of comfort. Especially when you consider they were only four wickets down.
However, after Aussie all-rounder Nicola Carey bowled an excellent penultimate five conceding only three runs, nine were needed with Dottin on strike. A boundary and a single by the Barbadian eased the pressure to leave four off three balls to secure Spirit back-to-back wins. Surely with South African international Nadine de Klerk on strike the match was over. Bu no, de Klerk was caught next ball at deep midwicket for 13.
New batter Charlie Dean, Spirit skipper scored a single leaving Dottin the chance to grab the glory. Sadly, for the Spirit she failed. Off spinner Matthews somehow managed to concede a mere three runs off the last three balls.
“I thought Nicola Carey’s five balls was really crucial. She nailed some yorkers and committed to the wide plan which she executed really well and made it difficult for us. I think that was the turning point” said London Spirit wicket keeper and opening batter Amy Jones.
It was a must-win match for MI London after three successive defeats, and they were asked to bat by London Spirit. The south London franchise were unfortunately missing England opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge through injury.
In any tie there are momentum swings and this was no different. The match went one way and then the other.
MI London made a steady start and when Matthews was second out the score was 35/2 (28). Skipper Holly Armitage and Kiwi star Melie Kerr moved up a gear to add 46 for the third wicket to leave the home side 81/3 after 62 balls, but with the century only coming up after 80 balls the impetus was lost.
That all changed upon the arrival of Jamaican all-rounder Chinelle Henry. Moving into top gear Henry blasted a 12 ball 33 with Melie Kerr ending 49 not out off 32 balls. Henry struck 16 off the final three balls to finish on what an above par score.
Advantage MI London. Only three previous sides had chased over 150 in the history of the women’s hundred.
Despite losing Aussie Grace Harris first ball to a careless front foot drive MI London number three, Marie Kelly immediately attacked the visiting bowlers. Kelly struck 5 4’s in the power play.
Once Kelly was out for 45 (28) on 62/2 Marizanne Kapp took over and alongside an increasingly confident Amy Jones, who struggled early on, they went past the century and more. Kapp, who has been short of runs so far in the Hundred, hammered 25 off 13 balls whilst Jones scored 49 (36). The Spirit were firmly in the driving seat. However, inside four balls they were both out. 124/4 off 78 balls.
Were those dismissals the turning point of the capital clash or was it Carey’s penultimate five balls. What is clear is that in the last twenty balls MI London scored 44 while London Spirit scored 24.
Who were the most disappointed at the end? Whilst I still think London Spirt should have won, for me it must be MI London. After three consecutive defeats a win was essential. MI London coach Lisa Keightley replied, “of course we do”, when I asked if they needed to win all their remaining four matches.
Keightley was still hopeful of a turnaround in fortunes after her side had lost by one run to the league leaders Southern Brave on Monday 27th.
“It would have been nice to get the two points, I’m not lying. We’re starting to play some better cricket than at the start of the competition. Starting to get combinations right.
“We would have loved to have to won it, but we fought hard all the way through which is really pleasing and we’re starting to put some good cricket together.
“Obviously, we’re not where we like to be but we’re working hard as a group, still connecting, growing together and enjoying what we do. We have just been on the other side in the last two games but sometimes that’s cricket, said Keightley”.
Their next game is against 3rd placed Manchester Super Giants on Sunday
Meanwhile, London Spirit with one win, one tie and one defeat still have hopes of making the eliminator. Saturday’s game against the unbeaten league leaders Southern Brave will be a better guide on their chances of achieving that goal.
Finally, reflecting back on the action a tie though is a rare event, only the fourth in the history of the women’s Hundred, gripping to watch, but one which London Spirit should have won. A super 5 anyone!
Stephen’s Standout player
Marie Kelly – Impressed with her early stroke play after the first ball dismissal of Grace Harris. Although Spirit failed ultimately to go past MI London’s challenging target her approach in the power play had given her side the platform to win the game.
MI London 151/4 – London Spirit 151/5 – Match Tied