By Huzaifa Yousafzai from Kia Oval
Dani Wyatt’s 46 not out guided the Southern Brave to a thrilling seven wicket victory against the Oval Invincibles in a rain reduced encounter in South London.
Despite losing four out of their first five games including a tied match against Superchargers, the title holders finally recorded their first victory of the season to keep hopes of reaching the knockouts alive.
A pair of dropped catches from Alice Capsey and Mady Villiers proved costly as Wyatt hit an unbeaten 46 in a match that was reduced to 65 balls per side following a rain delay in the first innings.
The former champions, Oval Invincibles could have gone joint top with a win today but instead remain in third place with two games to go.
Having won the toss and chosen to field, Southern Brave kicked off with the ideal start as Lauren Cheatle removed Sri Lankan superstar Chamari Athapaththu caught behind for a three-ball duck.
Capsey was next to fall when her pull shot landed in the hands of Freya Kemp at deep square leg to give Cheatle her second wicket as the Invincibles ended the powerplay on 23 for 2.
Following a 90-minute rain delay the game was reduced to 65 balls per side leaving the Invincibles with only 30 deliveries remaining in their innings.
Invincibles captain Lauren-Winfield Hill found Wyatt on the legside boundary before the very next ball, Paige Scholfield picked out Chloe Tryon at long-off as Tilly Corteen-Coleman picked up two wickets in two balls.
Marizanne Kapp rounded out the innings by sweeping Lauren Bell to the vacant fine leg boundary for four as the home side finished on 79 for 4 setting a DLS adjusted target of 83 runs.
After hitting an early boundary, Wyatt chipped an uppish drive to Villiers at point where she dropped a simple catch before watching the ball sail over her head for six runs just a few balls later.
Wyatt was dropped once again when she slapped the ball towards Capsey at extra-cover before a tight single call to fine leg resulted in the run out of Smriti Mandhana on the following delivery.
Maia Bouchier survived a pair of LBW shouts to start her innings but replied by hitting the next two deliveries past the bowler for four as the Southern Brave ended the 16-ball powerplay on 20 for 1.
Bouchier was dismissed shortly after when Ryana MacDonald-Gay knocked back her middle stump before Sophia Smale had Freya Kemp dropped to a tough chance at backward point by Athapaththu.
Smale had Kemp’s wicket not too long after when the left-handed batter picked out Capsey at mid-wicket but a crucial partnership between Tryon and Wyatt won the game with a maximum from the penultimate ball of the match.
