Summary

  • Spirit bowlers star to secure first win of 2023

  • Poor batting display from Invicibles sees them bowled out for 97 off the final delivery

  • A Kerr takes 3-16

  • Spirit post 118-9 off their 100 balls

  • Norris & Filer add crucial 31 for final wicket

  • Kapp, Macdonald-Gay, Smale & Villiers take two wickets each

  1. Invincibles 1-0published at 98 balls left

    Target 119

    The Invincibles are up and running in the chase with a risky single!

    Lauren Winfield-Hill hit Danielle Gibson into the covers and set off for one. The fielder gathered it cleanly, though, and a direct hit would have done for Winfield-Hill.

  2. Postpublished at 16:30 British Summer Time 15 August 2023

    Oval Invincibles will still be confident of knocking off these runs, though, and openers Lauren Winfield-Hill and Suzie Bates are out there ready to begin that process...

  3. Postpublished at 16:27 British Summer Time 15 August 2023

    Thea Brookes
    Former Birmingham Phoenix all-rounder on BBC Radio

    The final wicket partnership was 31 runs and they are crucial runs for London Spirit. We were thinking they would be doing well to reach the 100 mark so they've done very well from where they were.

  4. Postpublished at 16:27 British Summer Time 15 August 2023

    Thanks, Ffion. That last-wicket stand between Lauren Filer and Tara Norris has certainly given London Spirit a chance.

    Given they looked down and out at one stage, they'll be happy to still be in the game.

    And here they come, led by Heather Knight.

  5. Postpublished at 16:25 British Summer Time 15 August 2023

    At the halfway mark, you'd certainly have Oval Invincibles as favourites.

    But London Spirit's little burst at the end could mean that they take the momentum into the second innings.

    So, on that note, here's Sam Drury to take you through it.

  6. Postpublished at 16:24 British Summer Time 15 August 2023

    Oval Invincibles bowler Sophia Smale on Sky Sports: "I feel like I've been low on wickets so it was nice to get a couple today. I was just trying to make sure that I target the pads a little more than I have been.

    "There is a bit in the pitch when you hit your good areas. But it should be good to bat on if there is some width on offer.

    "Lauren Winfield-Hill just told me to bowl my best ball and that helped me out and helped me keep it simple.

    "We'd have taken that score at the start of that so I'm hopeful we'll chase it and I'm not needed to bat!"

  7. Postpublished at 16:22 British Summer Time 15 August 2023

    The spinners then got to work in the middle overs.

    Sophia Smale and Mady Villiers took two wickets each, to go with Kapp's 2-13 and Ryana Macdonald-Gay's 2-25.

  8. Postpublished at 16:20 British Summer Time 15 August 2023

    The defending champions were then firmly in control after this little bit of chaos.

  9. Postpublished at 16:18 British Summer Time 15 August 2023

    It feels inevitable now that Marizanne Kapp will do something special every time she takes the field for Oval Invincibles.

    She started the Spirit's collapse, removing Niamh Holland second ball and the captain Heather Knight shortly after.

    Media caption,

    Kapp takes brilliant c&b to remove Knight on 10

  10. Spirit 118-9published at 100 balls

    Well, it was a disappointing start but Lauren Filer has finished the innings with a flourish.

    The last wicket of Filer and Tara Norris has added a very valuable 31 from 22 balls.

    It still feels under par, but it looked like a good pitch to bowl on so they have something to work with.

    Oval Invincibles need 119 to win.

  11. Postpublished at 16:13 British Summer Time 15 August 2023

    Melissa Story
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Lauren Filer will be submitting that form to move up from number 11 after this game because that was a brilliant stroke down the ground.

  12. Spirit 116-9published at 99 balls

    Four more!

    Lauren Filer is playing a very useful little knock here.

  13. 6 runs

    Spirit 112-9published at 98 balls

    Oh, lovely! A full toss from Alice Capsey is smacked for six by number 11 Lauren Filer!

  14. Spirit 104-9published at 95 balls

    Alice Capsey gets away with it.

    Just a couple of singles to Norris and Filer with five balls to go.

  15. Spirit 102-9published at 92 balls

    Oval Invincibles have to bowl their final eight balls (if it goes that far) with one less fielder on the boundary because of the amount of time it has taken them to get through the innings so far.

    Can Spirit capitalise?

  16. Spirit 100-9published at 90 balls

    Something for London Spirit to cheer as a Tara Norris boundary brings them to 100.

    What can their last pair get from the final 10 balls?

  17. Spirit 93-9published at 85 balls

    A streaky edge, a thump down the ground and a wide help edge Spirit a little nearer to the run-a-ball mark.

  18. Postpublished at 16:03 British Summer Time 15 August 2023

    Oval Invincibles' fielding has been excellent throughout the afternoon.

  19. Spirit 88-9published at 80 balls

    Lauren Filer is the last batter in for London Spirit.

    Can they get to 100 at least?!

  20. Postpublished at 15:59 British Summer Time 15 August 2023

    Melissa Story
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Trapped in front. The London Spirit are faltering here. This hasn't quite been the spectacle we imagined.