Women’s Hundred 2024: Oval Invincibles defeat Welsh Fire

In an exhilarating match at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, the Oval Invincibles Women triumphed over the Welsh Fire Women by six wickets, with twelve balls to spare, in the 6th match of The Hundred Women’s Competition on July 28, 2024. The star of the match was undoubtedly Alice Capsey, whose superb knock earned her the Player of the Match award.

Welsh Fire Women won the toss and opted to bat first. However, their innings struggled to gain momentum. Opener Tammy Beaumont fell early, scoring just 4 runs off 4 balls, caught by Winfield-Hill off Kapp’s bowling. Sophia Dunkley provided some stability with a quickfire 35 off 26 balls, including four boundaries and one six, but she was dismissed by Wellington, caught by MacDonald-Gay.

Hayley Matthews also had a tough time at the crease, managing only 6 runs off 15 balls before falling to Wellington. Sarah Bryce contributed a decent 20 off 18 balls, but her wicket to MacDonald-Gay halted further acceleration. Jess Jonassen remained not out with an important 32 off 23 balls, ensuring Welsh Fire reached a modest total of 116/5 in their allotted 100 balls.

For the Oval Invincibles, MacDonald-Gay and Wellington were the pick of the bowlers, each claiming two wickets. Their disciplined bowling, coupled with excellent fielding, restricted Welsh Fire to a manageable score.

In response, the Invincibles’ chase got off to a shaky start with the early loss of captain Lauren Winfield-Hill for a duck. Paige Scholfield then steadied the innings with 11 runs off 11 balls before falling to Davis, who emerged as the standout bowler for the Fire, claiming three crucial wickets.

Alice Capsey then took charge of the innings, showcasing her batting prowess with a well-crafted 59 off 48 balls, including seven boundaries. Her partnership with Marizanne Kapp (26 not out off 19 balls) proved pivotal in anchoring the chase. Despite losing Laura Harris cheaply, the Invincibles reached the target comfortably, finishing at 118/4 in 88 balls.

The Invincibles’ innings was marked by strategic aggression, particularly from Capsey, whose fifty came off 42 balls. Kapp’s calm and collected batting ensured there were no further hiccups, guiding her team to victory with her unbeaten knock.