Twitter Reactions: Oval Invincibles botch another run-chase as Welsh Fire survive in low-scoring thriller

Welsh Fire and Oval Invincible competed well in a league match in the Women’s Hundred 2021 at the Kia Oval in London on Monday, August 2. In a low-scoring match, it was the Welsh Fire, who bowled disciplined lines and managed to register their second win of the season. After starting the tournament with two consecutive wins, Sophie Luff’s side has added four points in their last two matches. 

Welsh Fire batted first and got off to a start but it wasn’t the quickest. They lost Bryony Smith for a dreadful 9-ball 3 early in the innings. Overseas signings Hayley Matthews and Georgia Redmayne got together for a small partnership. Matthews scored a run-a-ball 21 while Redmayne made 30 runs off 28 balls. 

Wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor made 29 runs off 24 balls and managed to push Welsh Fire’s score beyond 100. For the Invincibles, captain Dane van Niekerk was exceptional with the ball, conceding only 10 runs from her 20 balls and also managing to pick up the wicket of Matthews. Alice Capsey, Tash Farrant, and Mady Villiers also picked up a wicket each as Welsh Fire ended their innings on 112 runs for six wickets.

Oval Invincible flatter in small run-chase

Oval’s run-chase began in the worst possible way with Georgia Adams getting run out for a duck. Alice Capsey scored 14 off 12, while Grace Gibbs managed to make a contribution of 21 runs. Fran Wilson was there at the crease for a long time during her 23-ball 20 but didn’t manage to accelerate at the right time. 

The Fire was quite good in the field, plucking catches and getting crucial run-outs at the right time. On a slow Oval wicket, their bowlers managed to keep things tight and exert pressure. Matthews was the pick of the bowlers and managed to scalp up three important wickets and conceded only 23 runs. Nicole Harvey bowled a good spell as well, picking up two wickets and giving only 11 runs.

All of that helped them restrict the hosts for a mere 100 runs, winning the match by a margin of 12 runs. A good collective performance now sees Welsh Fire make an entry to the top four in the points table. They are followed by Oval Invincible at the third position.

Here are the Twitter reactions from Welsh Fire’s win:

Sarah Taylor was awarded the Player of the Match for her innings of 29(24).#TheHundred #Cricket #CricTracker pic.twitter.com/FfePiSlI7N

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) August 3, 2021

Great fun at the Oval today and tonight… highlights being Sarah Taylor’s reverse flick, Will Jacks flicked 6 & @markbutcher72 looking around his own room!

Looking forward to Lord’s tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/i3CPmTq6tB

— Charles Dagnall (@CharlesDagnall) August 2, 2021

Alice Capsey dropping Sarah Taylor to ensure she gets Taylor's name to her own bowling figures is such big game energy. Love it. #thehundred

— Isabelle Westbury (@izzywestbury) August 2, 2021

I understand why Sarah Taylor’s overall career record is a ~contested space~ but her trick shots, fuck sake, so good https://t.co/YIrdU89NwO

— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) August 2, 2021

@thehundred How fantastic to see Sarah Taylor back behind the stumps. Pure class. #Fasthands

— Liss Boy 63 (@63_liss) August 2, 2021

Sarah Taylor GIF for the day. #TheHundred #SarahTaylor pic.twitter.com/2fyCyQgrkz

— Krithika (@krithika0808) August 2, 2021

Sarah Taylor's reverse sweep off a spinner for me. I didn't watch the other two, honestly.

— Aman (@cric_ap) August 2, 2021