Unbeaten Southern Brave secured a place in the women’s final of The Hundred with an eight-wicket win over London Spirit at Lord’s.
Chasing 126, Maia Bouchier, who hit 43, and Laura Wolvaardt, with an unbeaten 56, put on a second-wicket partnership of 95, as Brave defeated the defending champions with six balls to spare.
Qualification marks a return to form for the Southampton-based side, who finished bottom last year after reaching the tournament’s first three finals, winning in 2023.
The visitors started well after winning the toss and choosing to bowl, reducing Spirit to 36-3, with spinner Mady Villiers, who claimed 3-38 overall, dismissing Georgia Redmayne and Grace Harris in the space of four balls.
Cordelia Griffith (44) and Charli Knott (34) put on a partnership of 67 for the fourth wicket, but the former’s dismissal by Georgia Adams started a run of five Spirit wickets falling for 22 runs.
Brave lost Danni Wyatt-Hodge for nine, given out lbw to Issy Wong on review, but Bouchier and Wolvaardt calmly set about chasing down their target.
Wong had Bouchier caught by Eva Gray with 18 runs still required, but Sophie Devine came in and struck the winning runs to secure a seventh successive victory, equalling their own record winning streak set during their 2023 triumph.
Brave have one group game remaining, at home to bottom side Welsh Fire on Thursday, and will play against the winners of the Eliminator match between second and third in the final at Lord’s on Sunday, 31 August.
Spirit remain in fourth and will need to beat Oval Invincibles in their last match on Monday and hope other results go in their favour to make the Eliminator.
