Oval Invincibles Secure Spot in Eliminator with Tense 5 Wickets Victory Over Trent Rockets
The Oval Invincibles defeated the Trent Rockets by five wickets in a nail-biting finish at Trent Bridge to secure their spot in the Hundred women’s elimination match.
The Invincibles will take against the London Spirit at The Oval on Saturday after their victory.
Key Performances and Match Results
Trent Rockets 91 for 8 (Gardner 43, Kapp 3-8) lost to Oval Invincibles 92 for 5 (Kapp 26*, Scholfield 26) by five wickets.
In a tight game played on a sluggish, low pitch at Trent Bridge, Oval Invincibles prevailed by five wickets to secure their spot in the Hundred eliminator at The Oval on Saturday against London Spirit.
Marizanne Kapp, an all-rounder from South Africa, was outstanding with the bat and the ball. She took 3 for 8 from her 20 balls and scored an undefeated 26 to lead the Invincibles to victory.
“I’m just happy to get over the line today,” Kapp stated. It really helps because I’ve experienced that numerous times for all the teams I’ve played for across the globe. Because today was so stressful, I am unable to focus about [the eliminator] at this time. However, I’m glad to continue.”
The Invincibles were chasing 92 to win, and they got off to a good start with Chamari Athapaththu of Sri Lanka hitting three boundaries in as many overs before being caught at long off by Ashleigh Gardner’s offspin for 16.
The Invincibles were 33 for 2 after captain Lauren Winfield-Hill was leg before Heather Graham, and they were 33 for 3 after Alana King bowled Alice Capsey with a brilliant legbreak just one ball later.
Halfway through, Paige Scholfield was looking hard at the spinning ball, her team still needing 47, and the Invincibles were 45 for 3. As the necessary rate approached one run per ball, Kapp counterattacked, hitting Graham for two boundaries to ease some strain. Scholfield then struck back-to-back fours off Nat Sciver-Brunt to reduce the required rate from thirty to twenty-two.
With eight balls remaining, Scholfield fell for 26, and Mady Villiers (1) went with seven needed, but Kapp kept his composure to see the London team home with six balls remaining.
The contest was bookended by Kapp’s talent. After bowling the first ten balls of the innings, she was duly rewarded. She removed Grace Scrivens twice for a duck, and two balls later, a flying Villiers brilliantly caught Bryony Smith (1).
After 13 balls, at 3 for 3, the Trent Rockets were in even more difficulty when Rachel Slater’s delivery kept low and claimed the important wicket of Sciver-Brunt, also for a duck.
Rockets’ 43 kept them in the game, but after Gardner was removed, their innings dwindled to 91 for 8, a total that Kapp was able to surpass to guarantee the Oval Invincibles‘ advancement to the final three.
