MI London and London Spirit shared honours in a pulsating derby at The Oval, with both sides finishing on 151 as the match ended in a tie. Marie Kelly was named Player of the Match for her innings of 45.
The result leaves MI London still searching for their first win of the season, while Spirit stayed alive in the race for the knockouts.
Kerr and Henry Power MI London to 151
Melie Kerr anchored the MI London innings with an unbeaten 49 off 32 balls, opening up the off side with ease throughout her stay. Hollie Armitage and Nicola Carey chipped in with useful contributions before Chinelle Henry took over in the closing stages.
Henry blasted 33 runs off just 12 balls, and her partnership of 55 with Kerr came off only 23 deliveries. She took 16 runs alone from Nadine de Klerk’s final three balls, pushing MI London to a competitive total of 151 for 4 in their 100 balls.
Marizanne Kapp was the pick of the Spirit bowlers, picking up two wickets for 24 runs, while Grace Harris struck once in a tidy five-ball spell that cost just four runs.
Jones and Kelly Lay the Foundation for the Chase
Spirit’s chase got off to the worst possible start when Henry removed Grace Harris off the very first ball with the new ball in hand. Amy Jones and Marie Kelly then steadied the innings with a rapid stand that shifted momentum firmly in Spirit’s favour. Kelly played fluently for her 45 off 28 balls before falling to Kirstie Gordon, and Jones continued to anchor the innings around her.
Marizanne Kapp added a quickfire 25 off 13 balls in a 51-run stand with Jones, striking two sixes along the way. Kapp was eventually caught off Hayley Matthews, who also dismissed Nadine de Klerk later in the innings. Jones looked to have the chase under control until she was caught by Nicola Carey at deep square leg with 27 needed from 22 balls, ending a well-constructed 49 off 36 deliveries.
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Dottin Seals the Tie in a Tense Finish
With five balls remaining, Spirit needed nine runs to win. Matthews bowled the final over to Deandra Dottin, and the Barbadian batter smashed the first ball for four before hitting her second straight to extra cover. De Klerk then picked out Kerr at deep midwicket, leaving Dottin needing three runs off the last ball with Charlie Dean at the other end. She managed only two, and the scores finished level, sealing the tie by the narrowest of margins.
Marie Kelly, named Player of the Match, admitted the finish had left her nervous. She said the team had been in a strong position at one stage before Spirit clawed the game back. Kelly called the finish a strange feeling, adding that watching from the sidelines without being able to influence the outcome added to the tension.
The tie means MI London remain on two points from four matches, with their campaign hanging by a thread. London Spirit, meanwhile, keep their qualification hopes alive heading into the business end of the Women’s Hundred season. Both sides return to action with their next matches still to come, and neither can afford another slip if they want a place in the knockouts.
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