London Spirit clinched The Hundred Women 2024 title after a thrilling four-wicket win over Welsh Fire in the final on Sunday, August 18. Indian star all-rounder Deepti Sharma shone with both bat and ball to help London Spirit Women to their maiden title.
The veteran spinner Jess Jonassen smashed 54 off 41 balls to help the Welsh Fire post a challenging total of 115/8 while batting first. Opener Georgia Redmayne scored 34 runs but it was Deepti's late late six that made the difference for the Spirit. London needed four runs off the last three balls when Deepti smashed Hayley Mathews for a big six over long-on.
Heather Knight's London Spirit elected to field first and the pacer Tara Norris proved the decision right with an early wicket of Sophia Dunkley. Captain Tammy Beaumont and the star all-rounder Hayley Matthews started well but failed to convert it into big innings.
Sarah Glenn gave the Spirit an upper hand wicket back-to-back wickets of Tammy Beaumont and Sarah Bryce. Jonassen, batting at the no.5 position, kept the runs flowing from one end with a stunning 54 runs off 41 balls innings but lacked support from the other end. Glenn and Eva Gray picked two wickets each while Deepti bagged one for 23 for the London side.
Chasing a tough target, London Spirit lost their star opener Meg Lanning on just four runs. The retired South African speedster Shabnim Ismail dismissed Lanning to give Welsh Fire a strong start but Georgia Redmayne kept the game balanced with runs from one end.
Shabnim also dismissed Heather and Danielle Gibson to take the game to the wire. Deepti struggled for quick runs but managed to pull off a winning six off Hayley Matthews to guide London to a memorable with with just two balls remaining.
Redmayne earned the Player of the Match award for her knock while Northern Superchargers' Annabel Sutherland claimed the Player of the Tournament title for scoring 212 runs and taking 10 wickets.
Welsh Fire Women playing XI: Sophia Dunkley, Tammy Beaumont (c), Hayley Matthews, Sarah Bryce (w), Jess Jonassen, Georgia Elwiss, Phoebe Franklin, Ella McCaughan, Freya Davies, Georgia Davis, Shabnim Ismail.
London Spirit Women playing XI: Meg Lanning, Georgia Redmayne (wk), Heather Knight (c), Danielle Gibson, Deepti Sharma, Cordelia Griffith, Abigail Freeborn, Charlotte Dean, Eva Gray, Sarah Glenn, Tara Norris.
