According to match reports from The Oval, MI London held London Spirit to a nail-biting tie in The Hundred women’s competition after Hayley Matthews conceded only three runs from the final three deliveries of the game. The result leaves both sides with their second tie in three years, moving the south London franchise off the bottom of the tournament table with two points.
Match Summary and Final Over Drama
Defending a target in the closing stages, MI London relied on Matthews to halt a late charge from London Spirit. According to official match data, Spirit required nine runs from the final set of balls. Deandra Dottin struck a boundary off the first delivery and added a single on the next, placing pressure on the fielding side.
Matthews responded by dismissing Nadine de Klerk for 13, caught at deep mid-wicket, before restricting incoming batter Charlie Dean to a single. Dottin could only chop the final ball into the leg side, scrambling for two runs to finalize the tie. According to the tournament scorecard, the sequence brought the match to a level 151-5 finish, mirroring the competitive tension seen between these two franchises in recent seasons.
MI London Innings and Key Partnerships
Put into bat first, MI London constructed a total of 151-4. Melie Kerr led the charge with an unbeaten 49 from 32 balls batting at number three, according to match statistics. Kerr anchored the innings by putting on 46 runs with captain Hollie Armitage, who contributed 23.
An unbroken partnership followed as Chinelle Henry joined Kerr at the crease. Henry posted 33 from just 12 deliveries, striking two fours and two sixes to push the total past the 150-run mark. Marizanne Kapp picked up 2-24 for the bowling side, applying pressure during the middle sets before MI London finished strong.
Did you know? This fixture marked the second time in three years that MI London and London Spirit have played out a tied match in the competition, highlighting the narrow margins between the two squads.
London Spirit Run Chase and Collapse
Chasing 152 for victory, London Spirit lost big-hitting opener Grace Harris immediately when she was caught by Armitage off the very first ball bowled by Henry. However, wicketkeeper Amy Jones steadied the innings with a top-scoring 49 from 36 balls, according to match reports.
Jones combined with Marie Kelly, who added 45, in a 68-run partnership. She then added 51 runs alongside Marizanne Kapp, who contributed 25. Spirit appeared on course for victory when needing 33 runs from 26 balls. The momentum shifted abruptly when Spirit lost both Jones and Kapp within the space of four deliveries. Kapp top-edged a catch to Dani Gregory off Matthews immediately after hitting a six, while Jones swept Kirstie Gordon to Nicola Carey at backward square straight after finding the boundary.
Tournament Standings Impact
The shared points alter the lower half of the league table. According to official standings, MI London climbed off the bottom position, using their two points to surpass Birmingham Phoenix on net run-rate. Meanwhile, London Spirit advanced to fourth place with a record of one win, one defeat, and one tie from three matches, sitting above Welsh Fire and Sunrisers Leeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of the match?
According to the official scorecard, MI London finished on 151-4 from 100 balls, while London Spirit matched that total by finishing on 151-5.
Who top-scored for each team?
Melie Kerr top-scored for MI London with an unbeaten 49, while Amy Jones led the scoring for London Spirit with 49 runs.
How many runs were needed in the final set?
London Spirit needed nine runs from the final set before Matthews restricted them to six runs, securing the tie.
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