![Alice Capsey was dominant in her innings for Oval Invicibles. [Image: Getty]](https://www.womenscricinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/385540.webp "Alice Capsey was dominant in her innings [Image: Getty]")
The 6th match of The Hundred Women’s Competition took place at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, featuring Welsh Fire against Oval Invincibles. In an engaging contest, the Invincibles clinched a comfortable victory, defeating the Fire by 6 wickets with 12 balls to spare, showcasing their batting prowess and strategic acumen.
Welsh Fire won the toss and opted to bat first. Their innings got off to a rocky start with the early dismissal of captain Tammy Beaumont, who was caught behind by Lauren Winfield-Hill off Marizanne Kapp’s precise delivery after scoring just 4 runs from 4 balls. This early blow put the Fire on the back foot.
The pressure continued to mount as Hayley Matthews, one of the key players for Welsh Fire, struggled to find her rhythm and managed only 6 runs off 15 balls. Matthews was eventually dismissed, caught by Kapp off the bowling of Amanda-Jade Wellington, adding to the team’s woes.
Despite the early setbacks, Sophia Dunkley stepped up with a resilient performance, scoring 35 runs off 26 balls. Her innings included four boundaries and a six, providing some much-needed stability to the Welsh Fire innings. However, just as Dunkley seemed to be settling into a groove, she was dismissed, caught by MacDonald-Gay off Wellington’s bowling. Dunkley’s dismissal at a crucial juncture left Welsh Fire at 66/3, putting them in a precarious position.
Sarah Bryce added 20 runs from 18 balls, attempting to build a partnership with Dunkley before falling to Ryana MacDonald-Gay’s accurate bowling. Bryce’s innings, which included two boundaries, was cut short as she was bowled by MacDonald-Gay, further denting Welsh Fire’s efforts to set a competitive total. Jess Jonassen then provided a late boost to the innings with a crucial unbeaten knock of 32 runs off 23 balls, hitting four boundaries in the process. Her aggressive batting in the final stages of the innings helped Welsh Fire reach a more respectable total.
Georgia Elwiss could only manage 3 runs before being bowled by MacDonald-Gay, leaving the Fire at 94/5. Phoebe Franklin remained not out at the end, contributing 8 runs off 10 balls. Welsh Fire concluded their innings at 116/5 from their allotted 100 balls. Throughout their innings, the Fire struggled to build substantial partnerships, which hindered their ability to post a more formidable total.
For the Oval Invincibles, the bowling attack was led by Ryana MacDonald-Gay and Amanda-Jade Wellington, both of whom took two wickets each. MacDonald-Gay’s 20 balls yielded 20 runs, and her ability to take crucial wickets at key moments was instrumental in restricting Welsh Fire’s score. Wellington was particularly economical, conceding only 29 runs in her 20 balls and taking two important wickets.
Marizanne Kapp also contributed with a crucial early wicket and maintained tight lines, conceding just 19 runs in her 15 balls. The disciplined and effective bowling performance from the Invincibles ensured that Welsh Fire couldn’t capitalize on their decision to bat first, setting a target of 117 runs for the Invincibles to chase.
Chasing 117 for victory, the Oval Invincibles’ innings got off to a shaky start as Lauren Winfield-Hill was dismissed for a duck by Shabnim Ismail in just the second ball of the innings. Winfield-Hill’s early dismissal put immediate pressure on the Invincibles.
However, Paige Scholfield and Alice Capsey then took on the responsibility of stabilizing the innings. Scholfield showed intent, scoring 11 runs off 11 balls, including two boundaries, before she was caught by substitute A Griffiths off the bowling of Georgia Davis. Scholfield’s dismissal left the Invincibles at 49/2, but her partnership with Capsey had laid a foundation.
Alice Capsey then took charge of the innings, displaying remarkable composure and skill. Capsey’s innings was a blend of aggression and precision, as she scored a crucial 59 runs off 48 balls. Her innings was laced with seven boundaries, which not only kept the scoreboard ticking but also put pressure back on the Welsh Fire bowlers. Capsey’s shot selection was impeccable, and she played confidently through the gaps, finding the boundary with ease. Her half-century was instrumental in anchoring the Invincibles’ chase.
Marizanne Kapp joined Capsey at the crease and provided solid support. Kapp remained unbeaten on 26 runs off 19 balls, including three boundaries. Her experience and calm demeanour ensured that there were no further hiccups in the chase. Kapp’s ability to rotate the strike and find boundaries at crucial moments complemented Capsey’s aggression perfectly. Their partnership was pivotal in guiding the Invincibles closer to the target.
Laura Harris added a quick 4 runs off 2 balls before being caught by Sophia Dunkley off Georgia Davis’ bowling. Harris’ brief cameo helped maintain the momentum set by Capsey and Kapp. Mady Villiers then contributed an unbeaten 11 runs off 8 balls, including two boundaries, showcasing her ability to finish the game under pressure. Villiers’ contribution ensured that there were no late surprises, and the Invincibles reached the target comfortably.
Georgia Davis was the standout bowler for Welsh Fire, taking three wickets for 33 runs in her 20 balls. Her ability to take crucial wickets at key moments kept Welsh Fire in the game. Shabnim Ismail, who provided the initial breakthrough, bowled with pace and precision, conceding just 17 runs in her 10 balls and taking one wicket. Jess Jonassen, Freya Davies, and Hayley Matthews also bowled economically, but they couldn’t prevent the Invincibles from chasing down the target.
Alice Capsey’s brilliant half-century earned her the Player of the Match award, highlighting her pivotal role in securing the win for Oval Invincibles. The Welsh Fire bowlers, despite their efforts, couldn’t contain the batting prowess of the Invincibles, leading to a decisive 6-wicket victory for the visitors.
Brief Score: Welsh Fire vs Oval Invicibles – Match 7 of The Hundred 2024
Welsh Fire- 116/5 (Sophia Dunkley 35, Jess Jonassen 32; Ryana MacDonald Gay 2/20, Amanda-Jade Wellington 2/29) lost to Oval Invicibles- 118/4 (Alice Capsey 59; Georgia Davis 3/33) by 6 wickets.
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