Twitter Reactions: Spirited performances from Tash Farrant and Kapp take Oval Invincibles to The Hundred final

Oval Invincibles staged a stunning turnaround in the eliminator to defend a low total of 114 at the Kennington Oval in London on Friday. They have booked a dream finals date with the Southern Brave at the Home of Cricket, Lord’s on Saturday. Tash Farrant and Marizanne Kapp were the heroes of the match for the Invincibles but it was a complete team effort in the field when things weren’t going their way.

It was a poor start with the bat for the Invincibles after being put into bat. They lost their top three with only 36 runs on the board off 37 balls. This followed a brilliant innings recovering partnership between Kapp and Alice Capsey. The two added 53 runs for the fourth wicket making sure their team had something on the board.

Kapp scored 37 runs while Capsey mustered 26 runs but the Invincibles lost four wickets in last 19 balls and never got the expected kick in the last few balls. They eventually ended up 114/7 after 100 balls with all the bowlers from Birmingham Phoenix doing well. Kirstie Gordon was most successful in terms of picking wickets (2/22).

Phoenix collapse from 66/2 to 94 all-out

The chase was expected to be straightforward for the Phoenix but their openers, Katie Mack and Evelyn Jones, bagged a duck courtesy Kapp. The skipper Amy Jones then took control of the innings and rebuilt with Erin Burns. The two looked extremely assured at the crease and added 52 runs for the third wicket. At 66/2 after 45 balls, the Phoenix would’ve started dreaming of playing at Lord’s.

But a final twist in the tale was still left. Invincibles skipper Dane van Niekerk dismissed Erin Burns and soon in-form Amy Jones was sent back by Tash Farrant. Both the batters got out in the space of five deliveries and no score was added. This triggered a panic button and the second half of the innings witnessed a sensational collapse with the Invincibles bowlers not giving an inch to the opposition.

Grenan Davies tried to keep her cool scoring 12 but pressure got to her and the Phoenix collapsed from being 81/4 to 94 all-out in only 26 balls. Tash Farrant led the way picking up four wickets conceding only 10 runs in 19 balls. Kapp went for only 21 runs and accounted for three crucial scalps off her 15 balls. The rest of the bowlers supported them well to book Oval team’s seat in the grand final to be played on Saturday (August 21).

Here’s how Twitter reacted: