The Hundred Women | Oval Invincibles Women trounce Southern Brave Women to become first champions

On the back of a magnificent all-round performance from Marizanne Kapp and disastrous batting performances at the top of the order by the Southern Brave Women, the Oval Invincibles Women went on to become the first champions of The Hundred at the Oval.

Chasing a tricky target of 122 from 100 balls, the Southern Brave Women were off to a horrific start with all the three top-order batters Danny Wyatt, Gaby Lewis, and Sophia Dunkley scoring ducks against Kapp, who was whooping round the corners in the first phase of the game.

After their chase was derailed, all were lying on the shoulders of Stafanie Taylor if the Brave Women were to chase the target and ace the game on the night of the final. However, she too could not get going and was found short of the crease while getting desperate to hit the leg spin of Invincibles’ skipper Dane van Niekerk.

The Brave capitulated inside 100 balls for a mere 73 and handed the Invincibles were proven invincible indeed by Kapp, who as deservingly adjudged Player of the Match.

Earlier, the Brave skipper Anya Shrubsole sent the Invincibles in to bat first on a rainy day in London. The Invincibles too did not get off to a great start as Georgia Adam was sent back straightway by the skipper.

However, the skipper van Niekerk and Fran Wilson got the women in green, back on the track with a muted but substantial innings. Their hard-earned momentum was carried on by Kapp, who could do no wrong on the big night for the Invincibles along with Alice Capsey and Mady Villiers.

During the innings break, the Brave Women could have backed themselves to get to the finding end and lift the trophy to become the first champion of the competition that is certain to ignite many debates and discussions around the evolution of the game over the next many years.