Southern Brave Women Register Record 89-Run Win Over Oval Invincibles

Southern Brave (Women) delivered a commanding batting performance, posting 161/6 in their 100 balls against Oval Invincibles (Women) in the 19th match of The Hundred Women’s Competition on August 18, 2025, at The Rose Bowl, Southampton.

Southern Brave Women Innings

The innings began with openers Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge providing a blistering start. Bouchier, known for her fearless approach, attacked from the outset, striking four boundaries and a towering six in her 34 runs off 23 balls. Her standout shots included a crisp cover drive off Tash Farrant that raced to the boundary and a lofted six over midwicket that electrified the crowd. Wyatt-Hodge played a more measured role, scoring 26 runs off 24 balls with four fours, her steady presence allowing Bouchier to take risks. Together, they forged a 59-run opening stand in just 38 balls, giving Brave a strong foundation and setting an aggressive tone.

The Invincibles’ bowling unit, led by Marizanne Kapp, tried to stem the flow of runs. Kapp was the most economical, conceding just 25 runs in her 20 balls and later picking up a wicket to offer some resistance. However, the early onslaught from Bouchier and Wyatt-Hodge kept the pressure on. The breakthrough came in the 38th ball when Bouchier, attempting another lofted shot, mistimed a delivery from Farrant and was caught by Paige Scholfield at cover. At 59/1, Brave were in a strong position, with Wyatt-Hodge looking to anchor the innings.

Laura Wolvaardt walked in at number three and immediately upped the tempo. Her aggressive intent was evident as she smashed five fours and a six in her 36 runs off 19 balls. Wolvaardt’s innings combined elegance and power, with a lofted cover drive that cleared the infield, standing out as a highlight. She punished loose deliveries, keeping the scoreboard ticking at a brisk pace. Wyatt-Hodge, meanwhile, continued to rotate the strike but fell in the 55th ball to a pinpoint yorker from Phoebe Franklin, who bowled her for 26. The score read 81/2, and Brave remained firmly in control, with Wolvaardt in scintillating form.

Sophie Devine, the experienced all-rounder, joined Wolvaardt and played a vital cameo. Scoring 19 runs off 14 balls, including two boundaries, Devine maintained the momentum with her aggressive approach. Her 42-run partnership with Wolvaardt came in quick time, pushing Brave past the 100-run mark and setting the stage for a big finish. Wolvaardt’s explosive knock ended in the 79th ball when she miscued an aerial shot off Amanda-Jade Wellington and was caught. Devine followed soon after, run out for 19 in the 82nd ball after a sharp piece of fielding by Scholfield and wicketkeeper Lauren Winfield-Hill. At 124/4, Brave were well-placed but needed a strong close to post an imposing total.

Freya Kemp provided the late fireworks, smashing 24 runs off just 11 balls. Her explosive knock included a six over midwicket and another over long-on, putting the Invincibles’ bowlers under immense pressure. Kemp’s aggressive intent ensured Brave kept the run rate high, and she shared a quick 26-run stand with Chloe Tryon, who struggled to find her rhythm, managing only 3 runs off 5 balls before being bowled by Kapp in the 94th ball. Kemp’s cameo ended on the 97th ball, caught and bowled by Franklin, leaving the Brave at 157/6. Georgia Adams (2 not out) and Mady Villiers (3 not out) added a few runs in the final three balls to push the total to 161/6.

The Invincibles’ bowlers struggled to contain Brave’s batters. Franklin was the standout, taking 2 wickets for 28 runs in her 20 balls, while Kapp and Farrant each claimed one wicket. Wellington also picked up a scalp, but it was expensive, conceding 25 runs in 15 balls. Sophia Smale and Alice Capsey failed to make an impact, and Daisy Gibb’s five balls went for 10 runs.

Oval Invincibles (Women) Innings

Chasing 162 runs in 100 balls, Oval Invincibles (Women) suffered a catastrophic batting collapse, managing just 72 runs in 83 balls to slump to an 89-run defeat, the largest margin by runs in The Hundred Women’s Competition history. The innings began disastrously as openers Lauren Winfield-Hill and Meg Lanning fell early to Sophie Devine’s disciplined bowling. Lanning, typically a reliable batter, was bowled for just 2 runs off 4 balls in the 12th ball, undone by a slower delivery she failed to read. Winfield-Hill, the captain and wicketkeeper, scored 10 runs off 10 balls with two boundaries but was caught by Georgia Adams off Devine three balls later.

At 13/2 after 15 balls, the Invincibles were reeling, with their powerplay yielding just 17 runs and two wickets. Alice Capsey and Marizanne Kapp tried to stabilize the innings, but the pressure from the Brave’s bowlers was unrelenting. Capsey scored 7 runs off 7 balls before edging a delivery from Lauren Bell to wicketkeeper Rhianna Southby in the 34th ball. Paige Scholfield’s stay was even briefer, dismissed for a duck off the next ball, caught by Southby off Bell. The score read 28/4, and the Invincibles’ hopes were fading fast. Bell was outstanding, finishing with 2 wickets for 11 runs in her 20 balls, setting the tone for the collapse.

Kapp, the only batter to show some resistance, scored 10 runs off 17 balls but was bowled by Villiers in the 44th ball, leaving the Invincibles in deeper trouble. Joanne Gardner and Phoebe Franklin fell quickly, with Gardner bowled by Tilly Corteen-Coleman for 10 runs off 9 balls and Franklin caught by Laura Wolvaardt off Villiers for just 1 run. At 45/7 after 52 balls, the chase was effectively over, with the Invincibles needing an improbable miracle.

Amanda-Jade Wellington offered a glimmer of hope, remaining not out on 18 runs off 18 balls with three boundaries. Her effort was the lone bright spot in a dismal batting display, but the lower order crumbled around her. Tash Farrant (1 run off 4 balls) and Sophia Smale (7 runs off 7 balls) were dismissed by Adams and Villiers, respectively, while Daisy Gibb (1 run off 3 balls) was caught by Villiers off Adams in the 83rd ball, ending the innings at 72.

Brave’s bowling attack was clinical and varied, and Villiers was the star, claiming 3 wickets for 17 runs in her 20 balls, using her spin to great effect with an economy rate of 0.85 runs per ball. Bell’s pace accounted for two early wickets, while Devine’s 2/15 in 15 balls included the scalps of Lanning and Winfield-Hill. Adams was devastating, taking 2 wickets for just 2 runs in 8 balls, and Corteen-Coleman chipped in with 1 wicket for 25 runs. The bowlers’ ability to strike regularly and maintain pressure ensured the Invincibles never found their rhythm.

The Invincibles’ collapse was worsened by poor shot selection and an inability to rotate the strike. Their run rate of 0.86 per ball was a stark contrast to Brave’s 1.61, and only Wellington reached double figures, and the extras tally of 5 (1 bye, 1 leg bye, 3 wides) offered little relief, as Brave’s fielders, including Southby and Villiers, were sharp, taking crucial catches and effecting a run-out.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

Southern Brave’s commanding total of 161/6 was built on several standout performances, but the defining moment, TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game, was Laura Wolvaardt’s explosive 36 off 19 balls. Her knock, with a strike rate of 189.47, included five fours and a towering six, showcasing her ability to dominate the Invincibles’ bowlers.

Southern Brave ride on Laura Wolvaardt's 36, Maia Bouchier's 34, and Freya Kemp's 24 to finish at 161/6! 🔥

Phoebe Franklin picks two wickets for Oval Invincibles. 🏏#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/z2msS95B5H

— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) August 18, 2025

Coming in after Bouchier’s brisk 34, Wolvaardt accelerated the innings, forming a key partnership with Devine to push Brave past 100. Her aggressive stroke play, especially against Wellington, who conceded 25 runs, kept the momentum with the Brave. Wolvaardt’s innings ended on the 79th ball, caught off Wellington’s bowling, but her contribution laid a solid platform for Kemp’s late surge and Devine’s cameo.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Mady Villiers was the standout performer, earning TCNI’s Hero of the Day for her exceptional bowling. In a match where the Invincibles crumbled chasing 162, Villiers bowled 20 balls, conceding just 17 runs at an economy rate of 0.85 runs per ball, and nine of her deliveries went for no runs, showcasing her control.

𝟱 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟱 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀! 🏏

𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲: 𝟭𝟲𝟭/𝟲 (𝟭𝟬𝟬)
Laura Wolvaardt – 36 (19)
Maia Bouchier – 34 (23)
Phoebe Franklin – 2/28 (20)

𝗢𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀: 𝟳𝟮/𝟭𝟬 (𝟭𝟬𝟬)
Amanda-Jade Wellington – 18* (18)
Mady Villiers – 3/17 (20)… pic.twitter.com/qZM73SaPSr

— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) August 18, 2025

She claimed 3 crucial wickets of Kapp, Franklin, and Smale, breaking the Invincibles’ batting lineup. Her disciplined spell, with just two boundaries conceded, was pivotal in restricting the Invincibles to 72 runs in 83 balls, securing an 89-run victory for Southern Brave.