Summary

  • London Spirit needed 96 off 41 balls to reach eliminators and knock out Birmingham Phoenix

  • They were 63-3 after 41 balls; completed victory in 58 balls

  • Knight & Gibson both unbeaten on 34

  • Welsh Fire finish bottom

  1. Postpublished at 16:49 British Summer Time 18 August 2021

    Aatif Nawaz
    Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    Georgia Hennessy can't find a good length. No sixes so far in this innings, and they need seven now to reach the eliminators. It's looking very unlikely.

  2. Spirit 55-3published at Ball 34

    Need 41 runs to win

    Another big four from Gibson! Great start for the young batter - maybe she should've opened!

  3. Spirit 51-3published at Ball 32

    Need 45 runs to win

    Not a great start from Georgia Hennessy, who gives Danielle Gibson two freebies down the leg side that she guides for four.

  4. Spirit 43-3published at Ball 30

    Need 53 runs to win

    It was always going to take something spectacular to take Spirit through to the eliminator.

    To get there, they now need 53 from just 11 balls.

    Heather Knight helps herself to four more but it's probably not going to be enough.

  5. Postpublished at 16:43 British Summer Time 18 August 2021

    Chris Green
    Middlesex all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    It will be very interesting to see how long London Spirit go for it, and what happens post that. Deandra Dottin tried to play a very difficult cricket shot.

  6. New batter: Danielle Gibsonpublished at 16:43 British Summer Time 18 August 2021

    Danielle GibsonImage source, BBC Sport
  7. wicket

    WICKETpublished at Ball 25

    Dottin c Cleary b Matthews 12 (Spirit 36-3)

    Dottin goes, and surely Spirit's hopes with her. It was another attempt at a boundary but Piepa Cleary gratefully accepts the catch. Will Spirit keep going for the eliminator place, or is their focus now on just winning the game?

  8. Spirit 34-2published at Ball 23

    Need 62 runs to win

    A massive slog from Deandra Dottin gets her another four. She could do with it just going a little bit further for six.

  9. Spirit 28-2published at Ball 20

    Need 68 runs to win

    OK, so let me just gather my thoughts. Spirit 68 from 21 balls to overtake Birmingham Phoenix in third place and secure their place in the eliminator.

    It's a big ask.

  10. Postpublished at 16:38 British Summer Time 18 August 2021

    Chris Green
    Middlesex all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    I'm really surprised Deandra Dottin hasn't opened the batting and is just coming in now. London Spirit have missed a trick here. That first boundary she hasn't had a look, it's stand and deliver cricket. I hope she bats for the remaining balls because she is on one.

  11. Spirit 27-2published at Ball 19

    Need 69 runs to win

    And Dottin's first ball is smashed for four! I'm pretty baffled she didn't open.

  12. New batter: Deandra Dottinpublished at 16:38 British Summer Time 18 August 2021

    Deandra DottinImage source, BBC Sport
  13. wicket

    WICKETpublished at Ball 18

    Beaumont b Cleary 8 (Spirit 23-2)

    Are London Spirit's hopes over? A big swing and a miss from Tammy Beaumont, which she had to do, in fairness.

  14. Postpublished at 16:35 British Summer Time 18 August 2021

    Chris Green
    Middlesex all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    No disrespect to Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight but London Spirit need boundaries here. The players from the West Indies can hit them so why haven't London Spirit sent out Deandra Dottin next? I am happy to eat my words as well, though!

  15. Spirit 22-1published at Ball 16

    Need 74 runs to win

    Another four for Knight, this time cut past point. Spirit need a few more of those - they're running out of time.

  16. Spirit 16-1published at Ball 13

    Heather Knight reverse sweeps her first ball for four! Class.

  17. New batter: Heather Knightpublished at 16:33 British Summer Time 18 August 2021

    Heather KnightImage source, BBC Sport
  18. Postpublished at 16:33 British Summer Time 18 August 2021

    Chris Green
    Middlesex all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    The experiment hasn't worked. I have to give credit to Hayley Matthews who has understood the situation and taken pace off the ball, bowling slow and wide. It's just a gimme. She's wasted much-needed balls.

  19. wicket

    WICKETpublished at Ball 12

    Tryon c Harvey b Matthews 4 (Spirit 12-1)

    And there's the first! That's a shame. The Tryon experiment hasn't worked - and she's also taken up a few balls without scoring which Spirit really didn't need.

    Good bowling from Hayley Matthews though - she bowled it slow and wide, forcing Tryon to try and play across the line.

  20. Postpublished at 16:30 British Summer Time 18 August 2021

    Chris Green
    Middlesex all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    Not much happening from Chloe Tryon so far. She needs to start finding the middle of the bat and run hard. She has nothing to lose so swing hard.