The Hundred Women's 2022: Marizanne Kapp's brilliance helps Oval Invincibles defend their title

The Oval Invincibles successfully defended their title with a five-wicket victory over Southern Brave in the Women's Hundred final in front of a record-breaking audience at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. The finale was played in front of 20,840 people, the highest attendance for a domestic game in women’s cricket.

Defending champions Oval Invincibles was the first team that made it to the finals this year, and Southern Brave, the finalists of the previous season, managed to seal the finals berth again this year. It was a repeat of the Season 1 finale, and the Invincibles, this time again, proved to be the better side against Southern Brave.

Brave won the toss and elected to bat first. The openers Danni Wyatt and Smriti Mandhana sailed through the powerplay with ease, but that was the only highlight of their batting innings. South African pacer Shabnim Ismail got the first breakthrough for the Invincibles when she dismissed Wyatt, and Mandhana’s wicket followed soon.

Sophia Dunkley and Tahlia McGrath struggled to score big, but when they found the momentum, they were taken down by Alice Capsey and Eva Gray respectively. The middle order batters failed to fire, which added misery to the Brave’s innings. Thanks to brilliant efforts from Invincibles bowlers Ismail and Capsey, who picked up two wickets each, while Marizanne Kapp, Sophia Smale and Gray added one each under their belt. As a result, Brave ended up scoring mere 101 runs in 100 balls.

Invincibles survive a sluggish start before before being crowned champions

Invincibles did not have the best start to their chase as opener Lauren Winfield-Hill was dismissed for 5(7) on just the ninth delivery, courtesy of skipper Anya Shrubsole. Top-order batter Alice Capsey then took charge of the game, and opening batter Suzie Bates did not get much opportunity to score. Just when Bates got the opportunity to take the strike, she was dismissed by Amanda-Jade Wellington.

Capsey followed her and walked off the field next. But then, it was the Marizanne Kapp show. The all-rounder walked in at No. 4 and played a very calm and composed knock as she went on to hit five fours, taking her score to 37*(33) at the end of the innings. Kapp showcased brilliant batting efforts on a pitch that was not supportive of the batters and she covered up a major chunk of the chase.

She remained calm on the field, even though she kept losing her partners on the other end. Finally, Emily Windsor, who walked out to bat for the first time this tournament, scored the winning runs for the Invincibles as the Suzie Bates-led side lifted the title for the second time in a row, thereby defending their title.