By Huzaifa Yousafzai from Lords
London Spirit’s spinners took six wickets and delivered 60 balls between them to restrict the Manchester Originals to 112 before chasing the target with eight wickets and eight balls remaining.
The victory has propelled the London Spirit into third place and in contention for the knockout stages whereas the Manchester Originals are stuck in sixth and almost eliminated from the competition.
Left handed opener, Georgia Redmayne anchored the run chase with an unbeaten 66 alongside her captain Heather Knight’s 29 not out as the Spirit remain undefeated against the Originals.
Alice Monaghan’s dropped catch off Knight from the bowling of Sophie Ecclestone proved to be costly in a low scoring affair where spinners from both sides found assistance in the surface.
Having won the toss and chosen to bowl, Charli Dean was first to strike for the Spirit when she castled Laura Wolvaardt before claiming her second as Australian batter Beth Mooney edged to the keeper.
An excellent caught and bowled from Sarah Glenn removed Eve Jones before Emma Lamb and Kathryn Bryce brought some stability as the Originals found themselves on 48 for 3 halfway through their innings.
Glenn and Dean both stuck in quick succession when Bryce and Ecclestone were given out LBW before Deepti Sharma had Lamb caught by Cordelia Griffith on the leg side boundary.
Some late hits from Fi Morris and Alice Monaghan’s first ball boundary ended proceedings with the Manchester Originals posting a target of 112 in an innings that never really took off.
Georgia Redmayne signalled the home side’s intent when she unleashed an exquisite straight drive to start the run chase with a boundary down the ground.
The Originals threw back a punch of their own when Lauren Filer sent Meg Lanning’s off stump flying as the Spirit ended the powerplay on 25 for 1.
Just like her batting, Monaghan made an immediate impact when the first ball of her spell knocked back Griffith’s off stump as the Originals were left needing 64 runs to win midway through the second innings.
Knight was given a life when Monaghan shelled an easy chance at cover before the England Captain made her pay by finishing the game with a boundary as herself and Redmayne ended unbeaten on 29 and 66 respectively.
