Wellington puts the boot in as Southern Brave warm up for Hundred final by beating Oval Invincibles at The  Ageas Bowl

Southern Brave Women limbered up for Saturday's Hundred final by beating second-placed Oval Invincibles by 31 runs at Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl.
Brave's Lauren Bell  celebrates after taking the wicket of Invincibles' Tash Farrant. Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images.Brave's Lauren Bell  celebrates after taking the wicket of Invincibles' Tash Farrant. Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images.
Brave's Lauren Bell celebrates after taking the wicket of Invincibles' Tash Farrant. Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images.

With the Invincibles already assured of a place in the eliminator at their home ground on Friday, both sides were playing fo r nothing more than pride in what could potentially be a dress rehearsal for the decider at Lord's, writes IAN McCULLOUGH.

But it was the Brave who claimed the bragging rights with a resounding win, despite being restricted to what appeared to be an under-par 115-3.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Led by Amanda Jane Wellington, the home bowlers struck back as the visitors lost their last eight wickets for 21 runs to be dismissed for 85 with six balls to spare.

Marizanne Kapp of Oval Invincibles Women plays a shot as Carla Rudd looks on. Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images.Marizanne Kapp of Oval Invincibles Women plays a shot as Carla Rudd looks on. Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images.
Marizanne Kapp of Oval Invincibles Women plays a shot as Carla Rudd looks on. Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images.

Australian leg-spinner Wellington took 4-12 and Lauren Bell 3-22 with only Invincibles skipper Dane van Niekerk and fellow South African Marizanne Kapp chalking up double figure scores.

Another excellent innings of 58 not out by England batter Sophia Dunkley helped the Brave to what appeared to be a modest score.

The Brave named Gaby Lewis at the top of the order after Smriti Mandhana returned home ahead of India's tour of Australia next month, but the Irish international fell to Tash Farren for just nine after Grace Gibbs took a smart catch above her head at mid-off.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Van Niekerk grabbed the crucial second wicket of in-form Danni Wyatt for 20, in what was a reward for some tight bowling.

Brave's Sophia Dunkley is almost caught by Oval Invincibles wicket-keeper Sarah Bryce. Picture: John Walton/PA Wire.Brave's Sophia Dunkley is almost caught by Oval Invincibles wicket-keeper Sarah Bryce. Picture: John Walton/PA Wire.
Brave's Sophia Dunkley is almost caught by Oval Invincibles wicket-keeper Sarah Bryce. Picture: John Walton/PA Wire.

Van Niekerk, Alice Capsley and Kapp in particular bowled superbly to contain the hosts' powerful top order with only 39 runs scored from the first 50 balls.

But despite the bowlers playing their part they were not backed up in the field with Jo Gardner spilling two simple chances

Gardner first dropped by Dunkley for 30 and three balls later put down Stefanie Taylor for 11.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The pair eventually added 75 for the third wicket before the West Indies skipper was dismissed on the 98th ball by Farrant with Gardner finally holding on to a catch.

Sophia Dunkley of Southern Brave Women plays a shot as Sarah Bryce of Oval Invincibles Women looks on. Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images.Sophia Dunkley of Southern Brave Women plays a shot as Sarah Bryce of Oval Invincibles Women looks on. Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images.
Sophia Dunkley of Southern Brave Women plays a shot as Sarah Bryce of Oval Invincibles Women looks on. Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images.

Wellington said: ‘I thought if we got to 110-115 it was defendable on a wicket like that.

‘It was really hard to start on but once (Sophia) Dunkley and a few of the girls got going on that pitch it actually looked like a really good pitch.

‘You can go into these games with a 50-50 mindset. Some people might think it is a dead rubber but we had to put on a display and put on a show for our crowd as well.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘It was important as well to show we can beat that sort of team. We did a fantastic job.’

Invincibles’ Farrant added: ‘Obviously we would have liked to have chased that down, but we gave them 20 runs in the field and we pride ourselves on our fielding.

‘Sophia Dunkley batted really well but if we could have kept them to around 100 it would have been a much easier chase on a slow wicket.

‘Obviously if we win our eliminator we are going to play the Brave in the final so we must put this result to bed and get ourselves up for the eliminator on Friday at The Oval.’

Related topics: