Marizanne Kapp produced a spectacular all-round display as Oval Invincibles beat Southern Brave by 48 runs in the final at Lord’s to clinch the inaugural Women’s Hundred title. The 31-year-old was the hero of the match for Invincibles for her valuable 26 off 14 and then 4 wickets for 9 runs with the ball in hand.
Southern Brave, who had been rampant in the tournament, winning seven out eight group matches, won the toss and decided to field first. Oval Invincibles didn’t get off to a great start as Georgia Adams was dismissed early.
Captain Dane van Niekerk (26) and Fran Wilson (25) got the innings back on track on a tricky deck and stitched together a 56-run partnership for the second wicket. Brave struck back to remove both the batters in a span of six balls and Invincibles found themselves 64/3 in 66 balls.
Kapp along with Alice Capsey (18 off 12), scored at a brisk rate to give Invincibles momentum at back end. Mady Villiers also joined in with her cameo of 13 off 7 balls as Invincibles put on a competitive total of 121/6.
Chasing 122 for The Hundred title, Brave had the worst start possible as Kapp ran through their destructive top order of Dani Wyatt, Gaby Lewis and Sophia Dunkley in her set of 10 balls.
When Miai Bouchier was run out, Brave were reduced to 11/4 in 27 balls. Brave had a mountain of a task in front of them, and after Amanda Wellington and Anya Shrubsole were dismissed, their chances were almost done. Stefanie Taylor (18) and Fi Morris (23) tried to put up some fight, but it just wasn’t enough as eventually they were bowled out for 73.
Invincibles weren’t favourites, but they showed tremendous fight to come victorious and write their names in history books as the first-ever The Hundred winners. Dane van Niekerk was named the ‘Player of the tournament’ .
Brief Scores
Oval Invincibles – 121/6 in 100 balls (Marizanne Kapp 26, Dane van Niekerk 26; Anya Shrubsole 2/16, Lauren Bell 2/24)
Southern Brave – 73 in 98 balls (Fi Morris 23, Stefanie Taylor 18; Marizanne Kapp 4/9, Alice Capsey 2/21)
Oval Invincibles won by 48 runs.
