Oval Invincibles became the first champions of The Hundred champions inflicting a 48-run defeat on Southern Brave in the final at Lord’s. Just like the Eliminator, Marizanne Kapp stole the saw with a terrific performance from both bat and ball.
The Invincibles put a modest total of 126 on the board, but Kapp’s four-for, two of which came in the first set of 10 balls, and an excellent catch, triggered a collapse for the Brave. They could only manage 73 on the board.
Earlier, captain Dane van Niekerk and Fran Wilson added 56 for the second wicket after the Invincibles lost Georgia Adams early. Wilson made 25 in 29 balls before falling to Amanda-Jade Wellington. Van Niekerk fell four balls later. The Invincibles were 64/3 in 66 balls at this stage.
Kapp and Alice Capsey upped the tempo, adding 43 in the next 21 balls. Kapp struck four fours in her 14-ball 26, while Capsey got 16. Mady Villiers smashed two fours to drag the Invincibles to 126.
The target was far from challenging for the Brave, who possessed some fierce strikers. But their top order faltered when it mattered the most. In the blink of an eye, Danni Wyatt, Gaby Lewis and Sophia Dunkley were back in the pavilion for a combined total of nought. All of them fell to Kapp.
Shabnim Ismail soon had Wellington caught by Capsey to reduce the Phoenix to 11/5. Quite fittingly, Kapp sealed the victory by getting rid of Lauren Bell.
Other than Kapp, Capsey picked two wickets. Despite not getting a wicket, Tash Farrant still finished as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament.
Brief Scores: Oval Invincibles 121/6 in 100 balls (Marizanne Kapp 26; Anya Shrubsole 2-16) beat Southern Brave 73 in 98 balls (Fi Morris 23; Marizanne Kapp 4-9) by 48 runs. Player of the Match: Marizanne Kapp.
Oval Invincibles won the Women’s Hundred. Player of the Tournament: Dane van Niekerk.