Sophie Molineux Spins Southern Brave To Five Wins

Sophie Molineux’s brilliant spin keeps Southern Brave perfectly unbeaten.

Molineux Spins Brave Perfect

Whilst some records are made by swinging a big bat, others are built by being the best at the art of control. Southern Brave built upon their perfect start to the campaign with a tense five-wicket win at a packed Lord’s against London Spirit to move to five wins from five, with Sophie Molineux the key performer with the gloves and the bat.

Molineux Strangles Spirit

It was a game of attrition as Southern Brave built upon their early momentum with a disciplined display of control to bowl out London Spirit for just 114. Molineux sent down a special spell of 3-7 from her 20 deliveries at the start of the innings to derail any hopes of a Spirit run chase that saw them lose two early wickets before she was dismissed.

Kapp And De Klerk Fight

The visitors fought valiantly against the Brave bowling attack with Marizanne Kapp hitting two fours from Lauren Bell at the start of her 34-ball 34, before Nadine de Klerk struck two maximums from Sarah Glenn, hitting a 38-ball 38. However, it was the lower order that provided the main resistance as Spirit struggled to get going against the fearsome Brave bowling attack.

A Modest Total Set

Spirit managed to make 114 for 8 from their 100 balls in reply to the Brave total, a modest score on a good batting track at Lord’s. However, it was always going to prove a testing total for the chasing side against the outstanding bowling attack of Southern Brave.

Bouchier Leads Reply

Chasing down 115, the Spirit bowling attack removed early wickets in Lizelle Lee and Jemimah Rodrigues, both falling cheaply to Kapp. It was left to Maia Bouchier to steady the Brave innings with the run chase well underway as she struck five fours and a six in a composed 38-ball 46.

Late Wobble Arrives

As the required run rate began to fall, so too did the Brave innings as Bouchier was stumped out four runs short of a well-deserved half-century. Molineux herself, after a handy contribution of 23, fell lbw to a brilliant one-handed catch at mid-wicket from Deandra Dottin with the score needing just a single run to win, with two set batters dismissed in the process.

Brave Get Home

However, it was not to be for London Spirit as the Brave continued their excellent run chase to cross the winning line with seven balls remaining to complete the five-wicket win. The Brave fans saw the largest-ever women’s group-stage crowd of 17,537 at Lord’s go silent as Southern Brave completed their task with a minimum of fuss to record their fifth consecutive win.

Molineux Takes Honours

Player of the Match Sophie Molineux was full of praise for the excellent conditions at Lord’s, citing there was a little something for the spinners on the day which saw her add yet another five-wicket haul to her season’s tally to send Spirit back to the showers.

Table Gap Widens

Southern Brave continue their rampant charge towards the top of the group after their perfect start to the campaign saw them register their fifth consecutive win, with the Brave now looking like definite contenders for the title in the business end of the tournament.

With the victory over London Spirit, the hosts move to five wins from five, while the visitors slip to just one win from their four matches, but still have a shot at an eliminator place.

Bowling Attack Fears

What is most frightening for any visiting team to Brave is the apparent inability to score freely against them. Whether it be the outstanding Molineux or the equally fearsome attack that supports her, batting against Southern Brave appears to be the preferred method of testing one’s batting abilities.