Cricket

Welsh Fire's relentless pursuit of 151 runs at Lord's culminated in a thrilling six-wicket victory over London Spirit, marking the visitors' highest-ever chase in the women's Hundred. The triumph also snapped Spirit's unbeaten streak in this year's competition.West Indies star Hayley Matthews emerged as the game-changer, blasting an unbeaten 78 off 46 deliveries, her highest score in the tournament. Her innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, featuring 11 boundaries and two towering sixes.Spirit's total of 150 for 5 was built on a late surge of aggression from Danni Gibson and Deepti Sharma. Gibson's 25-ball 41 included six boundaries and a six, while Sharma's unbeaten 39 off 26 balls showcased her power-hitting prowess.Former Spirit right-armer Freya Davies played a crucial role for Fire, claiming the key wickets of Meg Lanning and Heather Knight. Her 2 for 19 helped restrict Spirit's total.The chase began with a setback for Fire as skipper Tammy Beaumont was trapped lbw by Tara Norris on review. However, Matthews' brilliance kept the visitors in the hunt. She was dropped on 36, a costly error that proved pivotal.With 69 runs needed from 40 balls, Matthews took control, finding the boundaries with ease. Eva Gray's spilled chance when Matthews was on 36 proved costly, as the West Indian star went on to reach her half-century from 37 balls.Despite losing Jess Jonassen to Sarah Glenn, Matthews continued to dominate, smashing Sharma for a straight six to leave 10 needed off nine. Fittingly, she sealed the victory with another boundary, securing a second win for Welsh Fire.Spirit's batting depth was on display as they chased a third straight win. Lanning's 31 off 20 balls and Gibson's 41 set the platform, while Sharma's late fireworks added impetus.

Southern Vipers' relentless bowling attack, spearheaded by Freya Davies' exceptional four-wicket haul, propelled them to a dominant seven-wicket victory over South East Stars in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.Davies, a former Stars fast bowler, unleashed her blistering pace to dismantle the Stars' batting lineup, restricting them to a meager 120 runs. Her incisive swing bamboozled Bryony Smith, Alexa Stonehouse, and Kalea Moore, leaving the Stars reeling at 22 for 4.Alice Davidson-Richards and Bethan Miles attempted to salvage the innings with a 35-run partnership, but Vipers' spin duo of Charli Knott and Ava Lee proved too formidable. Knott's clever offbreaks accounted for Miles and Aylish Cranstone, while Lee's guile deceived Davidson-Richards.Chloe Hill and Ryana Macdonald Gay provided some resistance with a 34-run stand, but Hill's unfortunate run-out and Dani Gregory's dismissal to Davies sealed the Stars' fate.In contrast to the Stars' struggles, Vipers' chase was a clinical display of batting prowess. Knott, in her penultimate appearance for the team, anchored the innings with a classy 57, guiding Vipers to the target in just 23 overs.Ella McCaughan and Georgia Adams contributed valuable runs, but it was Knott's elegant strokeplay that stole the show. Her ability to dispatch width with ease earned her a well-deserved half-century, her third for Vipers this season.The victory not only cemented Vipers' position at the top of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy table but also avenged their Charlotte Edwards Cup semi-final defeat to Stars.