Considering both sides’ problems with the bat, the Oval crowd may have expected a low-scoring game. Instead, a fast outfield and clean striking from Chinelle Henry and Marie Kelly produced the game of the tournament, a high-scoring tie between the two London-based sides at the Kia Oval.
With both teams having struggled with the bat, and the format generally favouring the chase, it was no surprise Spirit captain Charlie Dean chose to bowl first.
Alice Davidson-Richards was promoted to the top of the order after Danni Wyatt-Hodge picking up an injury in the one run defeat to the Southern Brave a couple of days ago. Alongside Hayley Matthews, the pair got to 30 without loss before Davidson-Richards fell to Marizanne Kapp’s first wicket, holing out to the square leg boundary.
When Matthews fell soon after, Amelia Kerr, who played for London Spirit in the 2022 and 2023 editions, came to the crease. Alongside Hollie Armitage, they brought MI London’s 50 up off 40 balls. With the outfield particularly fast and London Spirit buoyed by their chase of 142 to beat Trent Rockets, a score of a similar nature was required.
Captain Armitage under pressure
Having won the competition with Northern Superchargers last year, Armitage and head coach Lisa Keightley are under pressure at their new side; a captain’s knock and a thumping victory would have been the tonic they needed. However, Armitage, needing to up the ante, was bowled by Kapp on 23 trying to give herself some room.
As has been the way throughout the tournament, Kapp struck early; her figures of 2-24 were superb, but playing that role means others need to step up at the back end of the innings.
Clean striking from Kerr and Henry
With MI London at 95-3 with 25 balls to go, it was honours even, but a third set from Nadine de Klerk, three fours and a dropped catch off her own bowling, swung the pendulum in the home side’s favour.
A fantastic finish to the innings, with 21 runs coming off the last set, meant a partnership of 55 between Kerr, unbeaten on 49, and Chinelle Henry, whose blistering 33 from just 12 balls carried MI London to an imposing 151-4.
Having been bowled out for 80 against Manchester Super Giants, Spirit needed to stand up with the bat. But Henry’s afternoon got even better when she opened the bowling and struck with her first ball, the dangerous Grace Harris caught driving loosely to cover.
Marie Kelly, off the back of 39 against the Rockets, gave the chase impetus, reaching 34 not out off just 16 balls as Spirit reached 40-1 at the end of the powerplay. Needing wickets, Armitage rang the changes, six options used in the first forty balls, and got her breakthrough when Kelly, on 45, holed out at long-on trying to reach her fifty. Seventy-nine were needed from 50 balls.
Jones and Kapp fine partnership
A fine 51-run stand between Amy Jones and Kapp cut the target to 33 before both fell in quick succession, both sweeping. Kapp top-edged for a quickfire 25, before Jones, the England wicketkeeper, followed for 49, a slog sweep picked out deep square leg.
Having stayed ahead of the rate for most of the innings, Spirit found themselves needing 12 from the last 10 balls. It looked as though de Klerk would guide them home, but she fell with four needed off two.
With three needed off the last ball, Deandra Dottin, on 11, faced Hayley Matthews’ offspin, and shovelled it into the leg side, scrambling back for two to level the scores. The game ended in a tie.
It’s the better result for Spirit, who move to eight points, while MI London will now need to be near-flawless if they’re to have any chance of reaching the eliminator.
