Annabel Sutherland helped snap Sunrisers Leeds’ losing streak, starring in their chase of 137 against London Spirit in the Women’s Hundred.
Two balls before, Jonassen had crucially thumped a four to start off the final set and put Leeds in front.
Spirit found an opening both times, but Sutherland was the constant, calmly taking them home after Phoebe Litchfield and Bryony Smith’s early work.
But Leeds lost three wickets in the space of seven balls, slipping to 59/3 at one point.
By then, Sutherland’s cross-seam magic had already cleaned up Kapp, and Spirit could only amble to 136.
Annabel Sutherland helped snap Sunrisers Leeds’ losing streak, starring in their chase of 137 against London Spirit in the Women’s Hundred.
With one needed off three, Sutherland clanked Nadine de Klerk over the midwicket fence for a six, rounding off a measured, sensible knock that led them over the line. She had Jess Jonassen for company, batting at seven after a reshuffle pushed her down from her opening role. Two balls before, Jonassen had crucially thumped a four to start off the final set and put Leeds in front.
A couple of wickets had made Leeds stutter just before the finishing line. Deepti Sharma fell trying to force a big stroke with 14 needed in nine. Before that, Dani Gibson had succumbed to Katie George as well, snapping a 48-run stand with Sutherland that had put them on course for a win. Spirit found an opening both times, but Sutherland was the constant, calmly taking them home after Phoebe Litchfield and Bryony Smith’s early work.
The new opening pair had set the platform with an enterprising start, racing past 50 by the 32nd ball. But Leeds lost three wickets in the space of seven balls, slipping to 59/3 at one point.
It wasn’t as dramatic a collapse as seen in the first innings. London Spirit’s openers began spiritedly, primarily attacking the extended V between cover and midwicket. At 67/0, Amy Jones fell trying to beat mid-off. That wicket to Dani Gibson gave them an opening, even as Grace Harris marched along towards a fifty.
Rain intervened exactly 50 balls in, by which time Spirit were well-placed at 89/1. But the break ignited a collapse. Three balls after the showers relented, they lost Harris for 51. Marizanne Kapp tried to hold fort, but Spirit kept tumbling and were reduced to 126/7, with only Deandra Dottin giving Kapp sizeable company, and getting into double-digits.
Plush with bowling options, Spirit could afford to use Deepti Sharma as their seventh bowler. Looping the ball with little speed, she played a role in silencing the middle order, claiming two and giving away just 18 runs. By then, Sutherland’s cross-seam magic had already cleaned up Kapp, and Spirit could only amble to 136.
Sutherland returned for some more magic, this time with the bat, deservedly bagging Player of the Match.
