No movement on a length ball pitching on off stump, and Naomi Dattani flicks it neatly away from the body for a single. Naomi Dattani gets off the mark.
A yorker crashes in down the leg side, and Naomi Dattani tries to flick but misses, the ball tapping her pad instead for no run. London Spirit Women have wasted their review on that decision.
An off cutter pitched as a length ball on leg stump, Sophie Molineux goes for a drive but mistimes it slightly. She’s caught by Deandra Dottin at mid-wicket, and that ends her innings. Sophie Molineux departs for 23 runs from 24 balls.
Over 18. 1 runs. Bowler: Charlie Dean. Southern Brave Women: 4-114(rr 6.33) An off break pitched just outside off at a back of a length, Maia Bouchier tries to drive but misses. The batter is stumped off the slower ball, departing at a crucial moment. Maia Bouchier finishes with 46 from 38. Southern Brave need just 1 run from 30 balls with six wickets in hand—a near-certain win.
Charlie Dean tosses up an off break, pitching a length ball down the leg. Sophie Molineux swings hard, getting an inside edge that races away for a single.
A back of a length quicker ball on off stump is pushed with a bit of a mistime, but the ball stays down and is fielded comfortably at backward point for no run.
Over 17. 12 runs. Bowler: Deandra Dottin. Southern Brave Women: 3-113(rr 6.65) Deandra Dottin bowls a slower ball pitched just outside off. Sophie Molineux meets it firmly with a measured drive, keeping it along the ground as the ball is safely fielded at cover for no run. Southern Brave Women require just 2 runs from 35 deliveries, comfortably placed with seven wickets in hand and victory well within reach.
A length ball on the leg side, Sophie attempts a flick but just misses, and it's called wide. A misfield by the keeper adds four more runs as extras rack up. That boost takes the partnership to a healthy 50 off just 31 balls.
A length delivery on off stump with no movement, Sophie Molineux pushes it calmly through the extra cover region, but it falls safely short of the boundary for no run.
Over 16. 14 runs. Bowler: Grace Harris. Southern Brave Women: 3-101(rr 6.31) An off break pitched on leg stump around length, gently pushed for a quick single into the covers and fielded neatly by Marie Kelly. Southern Brave Women are cruising with 14 needed from 40 balls, seven wickets in hand and a hefty 98% chance to win.
This off break drifts outside off, and Sophie Molineux confidently drives through the line, getting the outside edge for four. The ball races away finely past third man for a boundary. Another boundary for Molineux doubles her tally this over, pushing Southern Brave Women to a solid 100 for 3.
A back of a length quicker ball angling on leg stump, punched crisply by Sophie Molineux. She executes a well-timed pull shot, driving the ball fiercely through fine leg for a boundary.
Over 15. 5 runs. Bowler: Nadine de Klerk. Southern Brave Women: 3-87(rr 5.8) Sophie Molineux meets a no movement back-of-a-length delivery outside off with a well-timed drive, gently piercing the deep cover region for a single. Southern Brave Women trail by 28 runs from 45 balls with seven wickets in hand, the chase steady but challenging.
