By Huzaifa Yousafzai from Utilita Bowl
Heather Knight played a starring role as she finished not out on 65 to lead London Spirit Women to a 6 wicket victory over the Southern Brave Women.
Dani Wyatt’s half century led the reigning champions to 151 in the 1st innings before an unbeaten fifty from skipper Knight fired Spirit to a thrilling win with just three balls remaining.
Australian Georgia Redmayne made 45 in the chase as the visitors recovered well from the early loss of Meg Lanning to get their first victory of the season.
Several dropped catches highlighted a poor fielding performance from the home side, who have a lot of work to do in order to get back on track and defend their title.
London Spirit and England captain Heather Knight won the toss and chose to field first on a good batting deck at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton.
Maia Bouchier was given an early life when she chipped one to point where Dean dropped a simple catch. She then raced to 34 off 17 as Brave ended the powerplay on 42-0.
The first wicket fell as a result of some lazy running, when Bouchier scooped one to short fine and was caught ball watching before eventually being left stranded in the middle of the pitch.
Charli Knott was next to fall, caught by her namesake Dean at deep midwicket followed by Freya Kemp who picked out Cordelia Griffith at cow corner off the bowling of Eva Gray.
Wyatt marched on and raced to her fifty off just 28 balls with her side reaching 100 runs two-thirds of the way through the innings.
However, her favourite stroke proved to be her downfall as she attempted one cut shot too many and was caught behind for 59 with Burns picking up her second wicket of the afternoon.
Southern Brave captain, Georgia Adams was caught by a good diving catch from Dean in the deep before Chloe Tryon was caught at mid-off from the final ball of the innings as the hosts finished on 151.
Ex Australian International, Meg Lanning was offered up an early chance when she slog swept the young Corteen-Coleman’s first ball towards cow corner but thankfully for the Spirit, Wyatt shelled a tough catch diving forward.
The 16 year old Matilda Corteen-Coleman was not to be denied though as she took matters into her own hands by completing a return catch to dismiss Lanning just a few balls later.
The next wicket to fall came through the second run out of the day when Cordelia Griffiths hit one at cover and ran immediately, only to see Georgia Redmayne turn around and leave her partner stranded.
Redmayne had reached 45 and built a strong partnership with Knight, before Charlie Knott slipped one under her bat as Spirit lost their third wicket and remained marginally behind in the run chase.
A flurry of boundaries from Knight and Gibson had the home side worried, before an excellent direct hit run out from Charli Knott at mid-off broke the partnership.
Despite the run out of Gibson, the Spirit captain still remained and after hitting 15 runs off 5 Corteen-Coleman deliveries, Knight reached a 25 ball fifty with her side well and truly in the game.
Knight then emphatically hit her opposite number, Adams back over her head for four to complete an epic run chase and seal her side’s first win of the season.
