LONDON — The Hundred women's competition delivered two nail-biting finishes on Wednesday, with London Spirit edging Welsh Fire by two runs and Manchester Originals securing a dramatic last-ball victory over Oval Invincibles by the same margin.
London Spirit Hold Nerve Against Welsh Fire
In a tense encounter at Lord's, London Spirit defended 129 runs against Welsh Fire, with the visitors falling agonizingly short at 127/7. The match went down to the final delivery, where Fire needed four runs to win but managed only a single. "We knew every ball counted," said Spirit captain Heather Knight. "The way the girls held their nerve was exceptional."
Key moments from the match:
- Spirit's Amelia Kerr starred with both bat (32 off 25) and ball (2/18)
- Fire's Hayley Matthews top-scored with 39 but fell in the 18th set
- Sophie Luff's late 22* nearly stole victory for Fire
Turning Point
The 19th set proved decisive as Grace Scrivens conceded just four runs and took the crucial wicket of Sarah Bryce. "That over changed everything," admitted Fire coach Gareth Breese. "We needed 10 off 10 at that stage and couldn't quite get there."
Manchester Originals Stun Oval Invincibles
At Old Trafford, Manchester Originals pulled off an even more dramatic heist, chasing down 126 against Oval Invincibles off the final ball. Deandra Dottin smashed a boundary when three runs were needed, sparking wild celebrations. "I just backed my instincts," the West Indian star said post-match. "These are the moments you play for."
Match highlights:
- Invincibles' Marizanne Kapp took 3/15 in her 20-ball spell
- Emma Lamb anchored the chase with 44 off 38 deliveries
- Sophie Ecclestone (2/18) and Mahika Gaur (1/19) restricted Invincibles
Final Over Drama
With 9 needed off 5 balls, Dottin and Ellie Threlkeld scrambled twos before the decisive boundary. Invincibles captain Dane van Niekerk lamented: "We had it in our grasp but credit to Manchester - they held their nerve better when it mattered."
Standings Impact
The results significantly tightened the table:
- Spirit move to third with 3 wins from 5 matches
- Originals jump to fourth with their second victory
- Fire remain winless after four attempts
With just seven points separating first from seventh, every match carries immense importance. "The competition is wide open," noted broadcaster Isa Guha. "These close finishes show the incredible depth in women's cricket."
Looking Ahead
Friday's fixtures promise more fireworks as table-toppers Southern Brave face Birmingham Phoenix, while Northern Superchargers take on Trent Rockets. Both matches could further shuffle the standings in what's becoming the most competitive Hundred season yet.
Player of the Match Kerr summed up the day's drama: "That's why we love The Hundred - every ball matters and the fans get incredible entertainment. Two games going to the wire like this shows the quality across all teams."