In the penultimate league game, match no. 31, of the 2024 edition of The Hundred (Women’s), two-time champions Oval Invincibles registered a convincing win in a low-scoring contest against Trent Rockets. With this defeat, the Rockets were knocked out, allowing London Spirit to claim the final playoff spot, while Welsh Fire had already secured their place in the Final.
Oval Invincibles won the toss and chose to bowl first. Marizanne Kapp set the tone with two wickets in just eight balls, and Rachel Slater and Mady Villiers exerted pressure as the Rockets struggled to forge any significant partnerships. Amidst the fall of wickets, Ashleigh Gardner’s resilient 43 off 26 balls helped the Rockets reach 91. In response, the Invincibles’ top order faltered as Gardner, Heather Graham, and Alana King made early breakthroughs. However, Paige Scholfield once again proved crucial, scoring 26, alongside Kapp’s unbeaten 26* that helped steer the Invincibles to a 5-wicket victory with 6 balls remaining.
Highlights from the match:
1) Marizanne Kapp (Oval Invincibles):
The 34-year-old continued her outstanding all-round form, delivering the goods. With the ball, Kapp dismissed Grace Scrivens and Bryony Smith with just two runs on the board and later removed Natasha Wraith, finishing with exceptional figures of 3/8 off 20 balls, including 12 dot balls. In the second innings, she played a vital role in navigating her team through a tricky passage with an unbeaten 26 off 24 balls, ensuring a victory for Oval Invincibles in a tense chase.
2) Ashleigh Gardner (Trent Rockets):
The 27-year-old delivered another impressive all-round performance in a crucial match, though in a losing cause. Gardner came in at 3/3 and counterattacked with a valuable 43 off 26 balls. While Natasha Wraith provided support from the other end, their dismissals 8 balls apart left the team struggling to build on their total. With the ball, Gardner provided the first breakthrough, dismissing the dangerous Chamari Athapaththu and Mady Villiers later in the game, finishing with figures of 2/23 off 19 balls, showcasing her fight despite the team’s loss.
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3) Paige Scholfield (Oval Invincibles):
The 28-year-old middle-order batter continued her strong form with another crucial innings. In a modest chase of 92, Oval Invincibles lost early wickets and were 33/3 when Paige Scholfield came in. She partnered with Marizanne Kapp to forge a vital 51-run stand, guiding the team to a comfortable position with 84 runs on the board. Scholfield’s innings of 26 off 24 balls included two boundaries and a six, proving instrumental in the chase.
4) Rachel Slater (Oval Invincibles):
The 22-year-old left-arm pacer had not been a major wicket-taker this season but stood out in this match by claiming key scalps. Following Marizanne Kapp’s strong start, Rachel Slater dismissed the in-form Nat Sciver-Brunt for a duck and later removed Heather Graham for 6, preventing her from building a partnership with Ashleigh Gardner. Slater finished with impressive figures of 2/15 off 20 balls, including 12 dot balls, playing a key role in restricting the Rockets to 91.