The Hundred women’s competition, Lord’s
MI London 122-9 (100 balls): Kerr 69* (41); Dean 3-26
London Spirit 119-8 (100 balls): De Klerk 35 (29); Matthews 2-21
MI London won by three runs
Scorecard. Table
Melie Kerr played a magnificent lone hand with the bat to keep struggling MI London’s faint qualification hopes alive in the women’s Hundred.
MI London, who were previously winless in five games, slumped to 23-5 and 64-8 and were on the brink of elimination to their rivals London Spirit.
But all-rounder Kerr held firm and finished with 69 not out from 41 balls to propel her side to 122-9 before the bowlers ground out a three-run win.
MI London took the confidence boost into their bowling innings and reduced Spirit to 51-4 before a stand of 42 between Nadine de Klerk and Marizanne Kapp recovered their chase.
De Klerk’s departure for 35 swung the momentum back in MI London’s favour as they needed 15 from six balls, and Spirit curiously promoted both Charis Pavely and Katie George above the destructive West Indies batter Deandra Dottin.
Dottin then whacked back-to-back fours to keep her side in contention but Nicola Carey held her nerve with six needed off the final ball and Spirit finished 119-8.
It completed a remarkable fightback from MI London, led by Kerr who had not hit a six in The Hundred before this innings, in which she clubbed four alongside five fours.
Kerr could only watch from the non-striker’s end as Spirit captain Charlie Dean took three wickets in five balls, removing Hollie Armitage for six and Nicola Carey and Alice Monaghan without scoring.
Chinelle Henry, with 22 off 15, was the only other MI London batter to reach double figures before Kerr took 26 crucial runs from the last 10 balls including three sixes off the previously dominant Dean.
Despite the win, MI London’s fate is out of their hands. They need to win both of their remaining games comfortably to boost their net run-rate and for other results to go their way, and Spirit are in the same position.