London Spirit Crush Oval Invincibles to Keep Hundred Hopes Alive
London Spirit delivered a commanding performance at a sun-soaked Kia Oval to keep their hopes of progressing in the Women’s Hundred alive, dismantling Oval Invincibles by eight wickets with a remarkable 38 balls to spare.
With their qualification hopes hanging in the balance, Spirit knew a big win was crucial—and they delivered in style. The emphatic result not only improved their net run rate significantly but also puts pressure on the Manchester Originals, who must now defeat Northern Superchargers on Tuesday to prevent Spirit from advancing to the Eliminator.
Put in to bat, the Invincibles never found their rhythm. Meg Lanning and Paige Scholfield managed just 23 runs during the Powerplay, with only brief fireworks from Lanning (19 off 20) and a six from Scholfield (22 off 21) offering resistance. Spirit’s spin duo—Charlie Dean and Eva Gray—then tightened the screws.
Dean was instrumental, removing Lanning with a sharp return catch and later producing a stunning one-handed grab to dismiss Kapp, finishing with excellent figures of 2 for 12. Gray matched her figures, as Invincibles limped to 108 for 8 from their 100 balls.
Chasing a modest total, Spirit’s openers came out with intent. Kira Chathli tore into her former side, blasting 35 from 16 in the Powerplay alone. Alongside Georgia Redmayne (42 off 30), she powered Spirit to their highest partnership of the season—eventually reaching her half-century in just 26 balls with a majestic straight six.
Chathli fell for 53 off 29, and Redmayne departed just before the finish line, but the damage was done. Spirit reached their target in just 62 balls, sending a strong message to their rivals.
“We went out wanting to bounce back, and to win by a margin like that was fantastic,” said match hero Charlie Dean. Reflecting on her acrobatic catch, she added, “I should have been on the ring! But I managed to time my jump and hang on.”
Dean praised the team’s intent and singled out Chathli for her aggressive start. “Kira has been brilliant. At the top of the order, trying to punch first.”
With a rest day ahead, the Spirit squad now await the outcome of Tuesday’s match between the Originals and Superchargers. Should the Originals falter, Spirit will be rewarded for their dominant finale with a place in Saturday’s Eliminator.
Match Summary:
Oval Invincibles 108 for 8 (Chathli 53, Dean 2-12, Gray 2-12)
London Spirit 112 for 2 in 62 balls (Chathli 53, Redmayne 42)
Result: London Spirit won by 8 wickets with 38 balls remaining