LONDON — London Spirit kept their slender hopes of reaching The Hundred eliminator alive with a comprehensive 35-run victory over Southern Brave at Lord's on Wednesday, a result set up by a masterful half-century from Kane Williamson and sealed by a disciplined bowling performance.
The victory, inspired by the New Zealand maestro's 57 from 40 deliveries, was the Spirit's second of the men's competition and moved them to four points. However, their fate is no longer in their own hands, requiring other results to go their way to have any chance of progressing.
The day's earlier match at Headingley saw a seismic shift in the table, as Harry Brook's blistering 63 not out powered Northern Superchargers to a thrilling last-ball victory over table-toppers Oval Invincibles, blowing the race for the top three wide open and giving teams like Spirit a glimmer of hope.
Williamson's Class Anchors Spirit Innings
After being put in to bat, London Spirit's innings was a tale of two halves, initially stuttering before being resurrected by their experienced core. The explosive opening pair of Zak Crawley and Dan Lawrence fell cheaply, leaving the home side at a precarious 24 for 2 inside the first 20 balls.
The situation demanded calm heads, and in Williamson and England's Ollie Pope, Spirit had just the right men for the job. The pair meticulously rebuilt the innings, rotating the strike and punishing the occasional loose delivery. Pope provided fluent support with a well-made 38 from 29 balls before holing out to long-on off the bowling of James Fuller.
Williamson, however, shifted through the gears effortlessly. He targeted the shorter boundary towards the Tavern Stand with a series of exquisite cuts and pulls, never looking rushed but consistently accumulating. His innings, which included seven fours and a six, was a clinic in controlled aggression. "It was just about trying to build a partnership and assess conditions," Williamson said post-match. "It was nice to spend some time in the middle and contribute."
A late flurry from Matthew Wade (19* from 9) and Jordan Thompson (12* from 5) propelled Spirit to a competitive total of 150 for 6 from their 100 balls, a score that felt above par on a used Lord's pitch that offered variable bounce.
Brave's Chase Stifled by Tight Bowling
In response, Southern Brave's chase never truly gathered momentum, losing wickets at regular intervals. The dangerous Finn Allen was dismissed early by Thompson, and the Spirit's trio of pace bowlers – Nathan Ellis, Thompson, and Liam Dawson – applied immense pressure through the middle phase of the innings.
The required run rate began to climb steadily, forcing the Brave batters into risky shots. The key moment came when the prolific James Vince, on 22, sliced a wide delivery from Ellis straight to point, effectively ending Brave's hopes. Ellis was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with impressive figures of 2 for 19 from his 20 balls.
The Brave innings lacked a significant partnership, with only Leus du Plooy (29 from 21) offering any sustained resistance before he was clean bowled by a superb yorker from Thompson. The tail offered little fight, and the visitors were eventually bowled out for 115 with three balls remaining, handing Spirit a massive net run-rate boost.
Spirit captain Crawley praised his team's all-round effort: "The bowlers were outstanding today. They executed their plans perfectly. We knew we needed to win and win well to have any chance, and the boys were brilliant. Kane was pure class, and that's what world-class players do."
Superchargers Shock Invincibles in Thriller
The narrative of the entire competition was altered earlier in the day at Headingley, where Harry Brook produced a stunning innings to guide Northern Superchargers to an unlikely victory over the previously dominant Oval Invincibles. Chasing 158, the Superchargers found themselves in deep trouble at 63 for 4.
Brook, however, played a calculated and devastating knock, single-handedly keeping his team in the contest. He found a willing partner in South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, and the pair took the game down to the wire, needing 10 runs from the final set of five balls bowled by Invincibles' star paceman Spencer Johnson.
In a dramatic finale, Brook unleashed his full repertoire:
- A powerful drive through the covers for four
- A cleverly guided two down to third man
- A monstrous six over long-on to level the scores
- A scrambled single off the final ball to seal a famous win
Brook finished on 63 not out from just 36 balls, an innings that included five fours and three sixes. The victory catapulted the Superchargers to the top of the table on net run-rate and, crucially, handed the Invincibles their first loss, proving they are beatable and opening the door for the chasing pack.
A Complex Path to the Eliminator
With just a handful of games remaining, the table is incredibly tight. London Spirit's victory, combined with the Invincibles' loss, creates a fascinating mathematical possibility for Crawley's men, but their path is narrow and dependent on other results.
For Spirit to qualify, they must first win their final match against Birmingham Phoenix. They then require both Manchester Originals and Oval Invincibles to lose their remaining games without improving their net run-rate significantly. It is a long shot, but the dramatic events of Wednesday prove that in The Hundred, anything is possible.
The defeat is a significant setback for Southern Brave's campaign. After a strong start, they have now suffered consecutive losses and sit mid-table, needing a victory in their final game and favorable outcomes to have a chance of defending their title from last season.
The day belonged to two cool-headed batters: Kane Williamson, who provided the foundation for a crucial win, and Harry Brook, whose explosive talent reshaped the entire tournament landscape. As the group stage reaches its climax, the race for the top three is perfectly poised for a thrilling finale.