Invincibles retain Hundred title as Aussie duo miss out

Australia’s Tahlia McGrath and Amanda-Jade Wellington have been thwarted at the final hurdle in their bid to win the Women's Hundred with Southern Brave.

Just as in last year's inaugural edition, Wellington, one of the tournament's outstanding performers, found her excellent legspin wasn't enough for her side to overcome the Oval Invincibles in front of a record crowd at Lord's.

And McGrath, whose player of the match performance at the Rose Bowl 24 hours earlier had propelled the Brave into Saturday's rematch, was also left frustrated as the Invincibles successfully defended their title with a five-wicket win.

Image Id: 4D30F36C00084B09B9F9F2DAE0B6D966 Image Caption: Wellington’s 2-25 wasn’t enough for Southern Brave // Getty

Australia’s women have made a huge impact at this year's event following their heroics at the Commonwealth Games but, ultimately, it was South African luminary Marizanne Kapp who proved the key to the Invincibles' success.

The fiercely competitive allrounder had been player of the match in the 2021 final too, and again looked every inch a player for the big-time with both bat and ball.

In front of 20,840 fans, Kapp took 1-19 off her 20 deliveries before guiding the Invincibles' otherwise nervous pursuit of 7-101 with a match-winning 37 not out - the best of the final - off 33 balls as the London side reached 5-105.

The two Aussie allrounders were not at their most influential, although McGrath's 20 off 17 balls was the Braves' second biggest contribution behind England international Sophia Dunkley's 26.

There were still hopes they could pressurise the Invincibles with the ball, and Wellington's two wickets, which took her tournament-best tally to 17 in total, offered a chink of light.

But she leaked just a few too many, recording 2-25 off her 20 balls, while McGrath conceded 18 off her wicketless 19 balls, Emily Windsor hitting the match-winning boundary off her.

The key battle had always looked likely to be Wellington versus Kapp.

But the South African won the duel hands down, taking consecutive boundaries off the Adelaide spinner after Wellington had also given away a wide that trickled expensively to the boundary.

Image Id: D83F6F1A0A8A47C08D7C780D5ED806F8 Image Caption: Kapp steered the ship with an innings of 37 // Getty

Invincibles' New Zealand captain Suzie Bates hailed 32-year-old Kapp and their other match-winner Alice Capsey, the 18-year-old who claimed 2-17 and struck a lively 25.

"The way Kapp batted was awesome. She shows up for those tough moments," said Bates.

"One hundred per cent, she's one of the best allrounders in the world and she showed why.

"Alice too, she's a big-moment player. Under pressure you need to be brave and she's done that all season."

Australians at The Hundred 2022

Women

Birmingham Phoenix: Sophie Molineux, Ellyse Perry

London Spirit: Beth Mooney, Megan Schutt

Northern Superchargers: Heather Graham, Alyssa Healy

Southern Brave: Tahlia McGrath, Molly Strano, Amanda-Jade Wellington

Trent Rockets: Alana King, Elyse Villani

Welsh Fire: Nicola Carey, Rachael Haynes, Annabel Sutherland

Men

Birmingham Phoenix: Kane Richardson, Matthew Wade, Tanveer Sangha

London Spirit: Nathan Ellis, Josh Inglis, Ben McDermott

Manchester Originals: Ashton Turner

Oval Invincibles: Hilton Cartwright

Southern Brave: Tim David

Trent Rockets: Daniel Sams