Impressive Farrant books Invincibles ticket to Hundred final

The bowling of Tash Farrant set the tone for the Oval Invincibles as they skittled the Birmingham Phoenix for 94 to book their spot in the Hundred final.

Farrant is now the leading wicket-taker in the tournament and claimed 4-10 from her 19 balls to lift her team to victory.

Invincibles opener Georgia Adams fell in the first spell of the game caught behind to Issy Wong, Phoenix captain Amy Jones reviewing after being convinced the ball had found the edge by her fielders.

Dane van Niekerk was the next to fall as the Invincibles slipped to 15-2 after 20 balls. Fran Wilson boosted her side before falling for 21 from 17, dismissed by a brilliant caught and bowled effort from Kirstie Gordon.

Marizanne Kapp and Alice Capsey attempted to steady the ship and progressed the score to 64 from 65 balls. From there, South African international Kapp began to accelerate when hitting Wong for a six and bringing up the 50 partnership with Capsey from 41 balls.

Kapp would depart for a run-a-ball 37 with the score at 90 from 81 balls, 17-year-old Capsey joined by Mady Villiers at the crease as the pair aimed to get the Invincibles to a defendable score.

The final 10 balls started poorly for the batting side as Capsey was run out for 26, before Villiers followed her back to the pavilion the very next ball when holing out to Katie Mack, who had fielded superbly throughout for the Phoenix.

Jo Gardner would be run out too before the innings finished but some late boundaries from Grace Gibbs did eventually see the Invincibles finish on 114 from their 100 balls.

Amy Jones’ Phoenix team would’ve been pleased with the total but the skipper would’ve less ecstatic to be walking out to the crease after just three balls, with Mack out for a duck to Kapp.

The Phoenix captain led by example in the early stages of the innings, claiming three boundaries to lower the required run rate. Her support at the other end was sparse, Eve Jones departed for a golden duck as the Phoenix slumped to 14-2.

Erin Burns arrived at 4 and began to form a partnership with Amy Jones, the pair reducing the required runs to 69 from 65 balls. A strategic timeout was called by the Invincibles with 55 balls remaining, van Niekerk understanding the need for wickets before Burns and Jones take the game away from her side.

A Jones sweep for four brought up the 50 partnership between the pair before Tash Farrant produced a brilliant diving catch to dismiss Burns for 23 and keep the Invincibles in the contest.

Fresh from her superb catch, Farrant came on to bowl and the 25-year-old continued her hot streak by claiming the big wicket of Amy Jones.

With two fresh batters at the crease, the Invincibles aimed to use the opportunity to put the pressure on their opponents and wrestle back control of the run rate. Gwen Davies ensured her side stayed around a run a ball as the final third of the game approached, although Marie Kelly’s departure, caught and bowled by van Niekerk, only made scoring more difficult for the Phoenix.

Issy Wong would be next to fall, seeing heroes stump sent cartwheeling when trying to scoop Shabnim Ismail to leave 31 runs needed from the final 25 balls.

Davies was the final recognised batter at the crease and when she fell to Farrant for 12, the spot in the Hundred final seemed destined for the Oval Invincibles.

The Phoenix tail tried to recover the situation but the skill of leading wicket taker in the tournament Farrant would shine through as Jones’ side were eventually all out for 94.

The Oval Invincibles take their spot in the final to play the Southern Brave at Lords tomorrow.

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