Capsey Fires Oval Invincibles to First Win of Women’s Hundred Season

Oval Invincibles 174-5 (100 balls): Capsey 52 (29), Baker 2-24
Birmingham Phoenix 152-6 (100 balls): Lister 33* (18), Wellington 2-27
Oval Invincibles won by 22 runs

Alice Capsey rediscovered her spark with a blistering half-century as Oval Invincibles defeated Birmingham Phoenix by 22 runs at Edgbaston, securing their first win of this year’s Women’s Hundred.

The 21-year-old, who burst onto the scene in this competition four years ago, smashed 52 from just 29 deliveries to help her side post 174-5, their highest-ever score in the tournament and the third-biggest total in Women’s Hundred history.

Set up by Lauren Winfield-Hill (33) and Meg Lanning (36), who powered the Invincibles to a record 54 from the powerplay, Capsey took charge with eight boundaries and a towering six. Her fluent knock included a 57-run stand in 29 balls with Paige Scholfield, who closed unbeaten on 25 from 16.

Chasing a daunting target, Phoenix never looked on course despite useful contributions from Georgia Voll (22), Emma Lamb (25), skipper Ellyse Perry (29), and Scotland’s Ailsa Lister (33*). Perry briefly raised hopes with a six off compatriot Amanda-Jade Wellington, only to fall to the leg-spinner the very next ball. Wellington also effected a sharp run-out to dismiss Lamb, finishing with 2-27 as Phoenix ended on 152-6.

Both sides now have one win from three matches, with the Invincibles, champions in the competition’s first two seasons, drawing level on four points with Phoenix.

Capsey on her resurgence

Capsey, who has endured a lean patch with just one fifty in her previous 32 T20 and Hundred innings, admitted the knock was a timely boost.

“I’ve lost a bit of confidence in some of my shots, especially the reverse sweep,” she told BBC Two. “It’s a go-to for me, so it was nice to see it come off today. From the start, I felt I had all my options available.”

The win also marks a return to form for the England all-rounder, who was left out of the recent ODI series against India but has shown signs of rhythm in domestic cricket.

Wednesday’s fixtures

A packed schedule awaits, with four matches taking place:

Southern Brave v Northern Superchargers — women’s match at 11:30 BST, men’s at 15:00

Welsh Fire v Manchester Originals — women’s at 15:00, men’s at 18:30

Live coverage is available via BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds, and the BBC Sport website and app.