That is it from this game! With a win in this game, Southern Brave Women have assured their top spot in the points table which also means they are the first team to enter the final of The Hundred, Women's, 2021. The side will be all smiles and certainly have the momentum with them. We now move onto the Men's game as Southern Brave take on Welsh Fire which begins at 1830 local (1730 GMT). Do join us for that. Till then, goodbye and cheers!
The skipper of Southern Brave Women, Anya Shrubsole says that it was a perfect performance and she is very pleased with their team effort. She feels they were desperate to win this game and they showed it on the field. Adds that they have tried to keep a strong core and it has worked pretty well in the end. She feels that the environment off the field has been pretty relaxed and she couldn't have asked for anything more. Mentions that the game against Manchester was a good wake-up call and every team has World-class players. Talking about their openers she says that they both are World-class players and we are lucky to have them at the top.
Smriti Mandhana, HERO OF THE MATCH, says the girls have been brilliant throughout the tournament and they deserve to be playing in the final at Lord's. Adds the bowlers have been very good with the ball and they deserve the credit. Says she was lucky today as she was dropped at the start. Talking about Captain Anya Shrubsole, she says that she has been brilliant and has led the side really well.
Brilliant bowling by Southern Brave Women! Anya Shrubsole kept things tight and didn't allow the runs to come easy. Then, Amanda-jade Wellington got the important breakthrough. After that, Danni Wyatt and Stephanie Taylor chipped in taking wickets of Bryony Smith and Sarah Taylor respectively. After Welsh Fire Women lost their top 3, they were put on the back foot and the Southern Brave Women bowlers did well to capitalize on the pressure they created. The side won by 39 runs and has also sealed its spot in the final.
Chasing a target of 167 was always going to be difficult. Welsh Fire Women showed no intent at the start and scored runs at a slow pace. Hayley Matthews needed to step up in this game but failed to get going. Bryony Smith got a start but failed to convert it into a big score. Sarah Taylor too departed and Welsh Fire Women looked in all sorts of trouble. Welsh Fire Women still had 7 wickets in hand but 77 were needed from 25 balls and that seemed impossible. Georgia Redmayne and Sophie Luff did stitch a partnership but that didn't help their cause as it was perhaps too late. In the end, Welsh Fire Women suffered a defeat as they lost by 39 runs.
In over# 20
1
0W
1
2
1b
Tara Norris 11/1(2)
100
1
Short ball on middle, Alice Macleod pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for one. And with that, Southern Brave Women have won by 39 runs. They become the first team to enter the final. What a moment for them.
Alice Macleod walks out to bat.
99
W
OUT! CAUGHT! Back of a length on off, Sophie Luff dances down the track and smacks it towards mid off. Smriti Mandhana settles under it and pouches it easily.
98
1
Short of a length on off, Georgia Redmayne pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for a run.
97
2
Full and on middle, Georgia Redmayne pushes it towards long on for a couple of runs.
96
1b
Good length ball on middle, Sophie Luff makes room for herself and looks to cut it but misses. The keeper fails to collect the ball cleanly and the batters take a bye.
In over# 19
4
1
1
0
0
Fi Morris 22/0(4)
95
4
FOUR! Short ball, around middle and leg. Sophie Luff gets right back in the crease and pulls it towards square leg for a boundary.
94
1
Flatter ball, around off. Georgia Redmayne works it towards mid-wicket for a single.
93
1
Flighted ball, outside off. Sophie Luff works it down to long off for one.
92
.
Flatter ball, around off. Sophie Luff shimmies down to heave it but misses and gets hit on the body.
91
.
Tossed up, on off. Sophie Luff hits it back to the bowler.