London Spirit delivered a heart-stopping efficiency to grab a dramatic last-ball win towards Welsh Hearth in The Hundred 2025 Women’s conflict at Sophia Gardens, sealing a two-run victory that saved their 100% file intact and solidified their place atop the leaderboard.
London Spirit, after profitable the toss, opted to bat first and posted a complete of 124 from their 100 balls. Charli Knott was the linchpin of the Spirit’s innings, crafting a composed 47 off 33 balls in a knock that saved the scoreboard ticking at the same time as wickets tumbled round her. The Welsh Hearth bowling assault was spearheaded by Freya Davies (3/16) and Katie Levick (3/26), who picked up essential wickets in clusters, threatening to limit the defending champions to a below-par whole.
Hearth’s late collapse ignites Spirit’s comeback
Welsh Hearth appeared effectively heading in the right direction through the chase, with Sophia Dunkley (36 off 29), Hayley Matthews (26 off 24), and Jess Jonassen (29 off 24) retaining them forward of the required charge. The hosts sat comfortably at 73/1, and with simply 24 runs wanted from the ultimate 20 balls with eight wickets in hand, a house victory seemed inevitable.
However the pendulum swung dramatically. Spirit’s bowlers, led by Grace Harris, tightened the screws with disciplined bowling on the loss of life. Dunkley and Jonassen fell in fast succession, and strain mounted as Hearth stuttered with bat in hand.
Grace Harris delivers underneath strain in last-ball thriller
The climax noticed Welsh Hearth needing three runs off the ultimate ball after a frenetic final 5 deliveries. Harris held her nerve, delivering the defining ultimate ball that resulted in a wicket, leaving Hearth stranded at 122/5 — simply two runs wanting the goal. The jubilant London Spirit celebrated wildly, with captain Charlie Dean and abroad star Harris combining to drag off essentially the most unlikely of victories in entrance of a surprised Cardiff crowd.
Charli Knott earned the Meerkat Match Hero award for her all-round effort. “We stayed degree as a gaggle, knew we had been at all times in with an opportunity, and Gracie simply pulled off an unbelievable over on the finish. We’re thrilled to get the win and hold the momentum going,” she stated within the post-match presentation.
This text was first printed at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times firm.
