Heather Knight and Georgia Redmayne star as London Spirit stun Southern Brave

The England captain hits an unbeaten 65 as Spirit beat the defending champions, who lose at home for just the second time in four editions

ECB Media | 24/07/2024 at 18:05

Utilita Bowl: Southern Brave 151-6, London Spirit 153-4 - London Spirit won by six wickets

Heather Knight produced a batting masterclass as London Spirit shocked reigning champions Southern Brave in a thrilling contest in The Hundred at Utilita Bowl.

Chasing 152 for victory, the England captain made an unbeaten 65 from 31 balls to steer her team to a six-wicket victory with three deliveries to spare, inflicting only a second-ever home defeat on Brave.

The hosts looked on course for victory after Danni Wyatt had struck 59 from 35 balls, in the process surpassing Sophia Dunkley to become The Hundred’s all-time leading run-scorer.

Fellow England opener Maia Bouchier made 35 from 21 deliveries before she was run out after a mix-up with Wyatt, ending a rapid opening stand of 57.

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^{Danni Wyatt's half-century appeared to put Brave in charge (ECB/ECB via Getty Images)}

Wyatt took the attack to Spirit, registering her seventh half-century in The Hundred before she edged behind off Erin Burns.

Georgia Adams (21 from 14) and Chloe Tryon (20 from 13) propelled Brave to 151 for 6 and Spirit made a slow start in reply, Meg Lanning was dismissed caught-and-bowled by 16-year-old spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman on her Hundred debut.

Georgia Redmayne gave the innings some momentum, making 45 from 31 before being bowled by Charli Knott, who conceded three consecutive boundaries to Knight as Spirit fought their way back into the game.

Knott's direct hit from mid-off sent the dangerous Dani Gibson on her way but Knight held her nerve, dispatching Adams to the boundary to seal an impressive victory.

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