In an exciting encounter at Trent Bridge, Oval Invincibles could pull off a five-wicket win over the Trent Rockets to seal their spot in the eliminator of The Hundred with the London Spirit. Both teams got to test their mettle on a slow and low, gripping wicket.
South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp proved the outstanding performer in what was a match-winning display with both bat and ball. Kapp’s fine bowling saw her return figures of 3 wickets for just 8 runs from her 20-ball spell, really checking the progress of the Rockets. Her work with the bat proved equally vital as she hit an unbeaten 26 to see the Invincibles reach their target of 92 runs with six balls to spare.
Almost relieved, Kapp reflected on the high-pressure scenario, drawing from the vast experience built up in the same situations with franchises around the globe. She was calm and poised to show in the crunching moments of the match. Rocket’s Ashleigh Gardner was the lone fighter. She added 43 off 26 which went in vain.
The chase was started by the Sri Lankan batter, Chamari Athapaththu, who put the tone by smashing three early boundaries, but her joy was short-lived as she fell for 16, caught off Ashleigh Gardner. Lauren Winfield-Hill, the skipper, departed for 5, and Alice Capsey was sent packing very quick, too, thereby seeing the Invincibles at 33 for 3. While the start was jittery, the resilient innings by Paige Scholfield and Kapp’s counter-attacking display (26 off 24 balls for each) kept them in the hunt.
The required run rate hovered around a run a ball when Kapp and Scholfield kept the scoreboard ticking. Seven were then needed when Scholfield fell for 26, only for Kapp’s steady hand to ensure the Invincibles crossed the finish line to seal a spot among the final three teams in the competition. Kapp’s all-round brilliance sealed the win, but it also underlined her importance to the Invincibles’ campaign.
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