The highly anticipated fifth edition of The Women’s Hundred 2025 began with a thrilling London Derby at the iconic Lord’s, where London Spirit made a strong statement in their bid to defend the title they won last season.
Oval Invincibles won the toss and opted to bowl first, inviting the reigning champions to set a target. Marizanne Kapp, known for her ability for taking early wickets, struck early by dismissing the in-form Australian wicketkeeper-batter Georgia Redmayne for a duck.
Despite the early setback, opener Kira Chathli and No. 3 Cordelia Griffith steadied the innings with a valuable partnership of over 30 runs. However, young spinner Sophia Smale broke the stand, by removing Chathli, giving the Invincibles another breakthrough.
This brought Grace Harris to the crease, and what followed was a dominant display of power-hitting. Harris and Griffith forged a crucial 100-run partnership off just 52 balls, propelling London Spirit to a formidable total of 176 for 5. Thanks to their explosive batting, the side registered the second-highest team score in the history of the Women’s Hundred.
Chasing a target of 177, Oval Invincibles suffered an early setback as skipper Lauren Winfield-Hill was dismissed on just the second ball of the innings, falling to a sharp in-swinger from Tara Norris that was crashing into the stumps. However, Meg Lanning and Alice Capsey steadied the innings with a 37-run partnership. The stand was broken when leg-spinner Sarah Glenn dismissed Capsey, further denting the Invincibles’ chase.
Lanning was then joined by Marizanne Kapp, and the pair added a brisk 77 runs, keeping the chase alive. During the partnership, Lanning brought up her half-century with characteristic composure. Kapp’s quick-fire cameo was eventually halted by Issy Wong, who later delivered a decisive blow by dismissing Lanning for 85, just as the former Australian captain looked poised to take the game away.
In the end, London Spirit held their nerve to defeat Oval Invincibles by 17 runs, securing a valuable four points in the opening fixture.
Highlights from the match:
Grace Harris – 89* off 42 balls
The Hundred’s fifth season kicked off in style, with Australian powerhouse Grace Harris delivering a blistering 89* from just 42 deliveries. Her innings featured 7 fours and 6 sixes, as she dominated the bowlers and thrilled the crowd with her trademark aggressive stroke play, scoring freely all around the ground. For her match-winning efforts, she was rightly adjudged as the Player of the Match.
Cordelia Griffith – 50 off 29 balls
Backing Harris at the other end was Cordelia Griffith, who played a crucial role at first drop with a quickfire half-century of her own, also her maiden half-century in The Hundred. Her 50 off 29 balls provided much-needed momentum and stability after an early wicket. Griffith also shared a brisk partnership with opener Kira Chathli, helping the defending champions stabilise the innings after losing an early wicket.
Marizanne Kapp – 2 for 23 (20 balls) and 33 off 21 balls
South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp made an immediate impact with the ball, dismissing last season’s standout batter Georgia Redmayne for a duck. Later in the innings, she struck again, removing Danielle Gibson, who attempted a scoop but was caught behind by Lauren Winfield-Hill. Kapp finished with impressive figures of 2 for 23 from her 20 balls, showcasing her class once again. The South African star also made a valuable contribution with the bat, scoring a quickfire 33 and forming a crucial partnership that nearly took Oval Invincibles over the line. However, her entertaining innings was cut short when she was bowled by Issy Wong at a pivotal moment in the chase.
Meg Lanning – 85 off 51 balls
The Aussie ‘Megastar’ was making her return to professional cricket after the heartbreak of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 final. However, Lanning showed no signs of rust, delivering a commanding knock of 85 at Lord’s, featuring seven fours and five sixes. Despite her impressive individual effort and valuable partnerships with Alice Capsey and Marizanne Kapp, her innings ultimately went in vain, as London Spirit secured a 17-run victory.
Issy Wong – 2 for 26 (20 balls)
Issy Wong opened the bowling for London Spirit and kept things tight during the initial overs, effectively restricting the flow of runs. Her patience paid off in the later stages of the match. Just as the game seemed to be slipping from the hands of the reigning champions, Wong delivered a crucial breakthrough by clean bowling Marizanne Kapp. She then struck again in the penultimate over, dismissing Meg Lanning at a critical moment. Wong’s timely interventions proved decisive, helping London Spirit clinch victory in the opening match and secure a valuable four points.
