Southern Brave emerges victorious over Northern Superchargers in the women’s championship of The Hundred

Southern Brave Clinch Victory in Women’s Hundred Final

The Southern Brave showcased their dominance by clinching the title in a thrilling final against the Northern Superchargers at Lord’s. This triumph marked a significant redemption for the Brave, who had suffered defeat to the Oval Invincibles in the previous two finals.

With an impressive display of skill and determination, Southern Brave emerged victorious with a convincing 34-run win over their opponents. Despite early setbacks that left them struggling at 8-2, opener Danni Wyatt’s powerful knock of 59 runs and Freya Kemp’s quickfire innings of 31 off just 17 balls propelled the Brave to a challenging total of 139-6.

A Stellar Bowling Performance Secures Glory

In response, Northern Superchargers faced an uphill battle as they lost Marie Kelly to Lauren Bell on only the second ball. The pressure was on Phoebe Litchfield, but when her dismissal came from Bell with a slash to deep cover, leaving Superchargers reeling at 13-2, their hopes quickly faded away.

Bell proved to be instrumental throughout with figures of 3-21 while spinner Kalea Moore contributed significantly with her remarkable spell of 3-15. Their ruthless bowling performance combined with exceptional fielding displayed Southern Brave’s complete control over their opponents, resulting in Superchargers being bowled out for just105 runs with six balls remaining.

Anya Shrubsole Bids Farewell as Champion Captain

This victory holds special significance for Southern Braves’ captain Anya Shrubsole, who bid farewell to her professional career on a high note. Following in the footsteps of her former England teammates Katherine Sciver-Brunt and Alex Hartley, Shrubsole lifted The Hundred trophy as she stepped into retirement.

The Braves had emerged as strong favorites this year after their disappointing performances in the previous finals against the Invincibles. They proved themselves as the premier side in the competition with an outstanding display in front of a record-breaking crowd of 21,636 fans at Lord’s – setting a new attendance record for domestic women’s cricket matches in this country.

Key Players and Future Direction

Southern Brave possesses key performers within their ranks. Danni Wyatt stands out as the leading run-scorer, while off-spinner Georgia Adams has excelled as the top wicket-taker throughout this campaign.

Captaincy will undoubtedly be a challenging role for any successor to fill following Shrubsole’s departure. However, they can rely on guidance from legendary former England skipper Charlotte Edwards, who now adds The Hundred title to her impressive coaching resume that includes winning Women’s Premier League with Mumbai Indians earlier this year.

A Rollercoaster Match Packed with Unforeseen Moments

The match itself was filled with unexpected turns and surprises. Southern Brave endured an early setback when Smriti Mandhana fell victim to Grace Ballinger’s delivery, cutting it straight into gully off only the second ball of the game. Maia Bouchier followed shortly after offering a leading edge caught by Kate Cross.

Danni Wyatt then took charge and showcased magnificent strokeplay before falling unfortunate victim to being run out due to an unusual incident involving Georgia Adams’ straight drive hitting Wyatt and deflecting onto bowler Kate Cross dislodging the bails at non-striker’s end. Wyatt had already accumulated an impressive 26 runs from just 11 balls before her dismissal.

Despite the temporary setback, Southern Brave managed to maintain their momentum with a brilliant innings by 18-year-old all-rounder Freya Kemp. Her stylish knock included five exquisite fours, providing further strength to the Brave’s total.

Kemp’s departure after being bowled by Cross did little to deter Southern Brave as they always appeared in control and on course for victory.

Acknowledging Superchargers’ Impressive Journey

The Northern Superchargers may have fallen short in this final showdown, but their remarkable campaign should not be overlooked. Previously unable to secure a finish higher than fifth in the table, their performance exceeded expectations this season.

England pace bowler Kate Cross proved to be an exceptional pick during the draft while Phoebe Litchfield, a late replacement for Australia team-mate Alyssa Healy, established herself as one of the rising stars of the tournament with her outstanding batting performances. Finishing behind only Danni Wyatt and Tammy Beaumont in terms of highest run-scorers speaks volumes about Litchfield’s impact.

This match served as a learning experience for Superchargers; they will reflect upon their bowling weaknesses and occasional lapses in fielding that contributed towards their defeat. However, it has been an incredible journey overall for this talented group of players who demonstrated continuous improvement throughout The Hundred competition.