London Spirit Women snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in Cardiff to clinch a last-ball thriller against Welsh Fire Women in the Hundred and maintain their 100% record at the start of this year’s competition.

Having been bowled out for 124, Spirit were staring down the barrel with Welsh Fire well set on 73 for 1 in reply, but the home side stumbled as the finish line approached and ultimately fell short.

With just 24 runs needed from the last 20 balls, and eight wickets in hand, the result seemed a formality but Sophia Dunkley and Jess Jonassen fell as Spirit inched their way back into the contest, and Grace Harris held her nerve with ball in hand to defend seven runs from the final five balls.

That the visitors were in the game at the halfway mark at all, despite having been bowled out, was predominantly due to Charli Knott, who made 47.

Knott’s effort – for which she was awarded Meerkat Match Hero – knitted together what was a strange innings, with wickets falling in clusters. Legspinner Katie Levick took two in two and recorded figures of 3 for 26.

Levick and her fellow bowlers would have thought they may have done enough, but while Welsh Fire looked favourites for much of the game – with Hayley Matthews and Dunkley classy as ever – they weren’t able to get over the line.

It signals a second consecutive defeat for Tammy Beaumont’s side, but for Charlie Dean’s defending champions it’s top place and two from two.

Match Hero Knott said: “I was definitely a little bit nervous out on the boundary there at the end. I think we knew we were in the game, Gracie pulled off a great over, and we’re very excited to get the win there.

“It was a little bit tough when I started my innings. I tried to just get into my innings and hit the sweepers hard, and then I was able to cash in a little bit at the end. I think the wicket just held up a little bit, and we got caught out playing across the line a little bit so the gameplan was to hit the sweepers hard and it paid off for me in the end.

“I think in close games like that everyone just has to try and stay nice and level. I think we knew we were in the game from the start, it wasn’t a road by any means, so everyone was on their toes hunting from the get-go, which was great to see. To pull off a win like that, everyone will be in high spirits, so we’ll take the momentum for sure and hopefully keep rolling through.”

Brief scores:
London Spirit Women 124 in 99 balls (Kira Chathli 19, Georgia Redmayne 11, Grace Harris 18, Charlie Knott 47, Sarah Glenn 14; Freya Davies 3-16, Hayley Matthews 2-15, Jess Jonassen 1-32, Katie Levick 3-26) beat Welsh Fire Women  122 for 5 in 100 balls (Sophia Dunkley 36, Hayley Matthews 26, Tammy Beaumont 11, Jess Jonassen 29; Issy Wong 1-19, Eva Grey 1-21, Charli Knott 1-16, Grace Harris 1-04) by two runs

[Cricinfo]