The Hundred Women Contest, El Óvalo

MI London 151-4 (100 balls): Kerr 49* (32); Kapp 2-24

London Spirit 151-5 (100 balls): Jones (49); Gordon 2-29, Matthew 2-33

tied match

Scorekeeper. Table

MI London held London Spirit to a thrilling draw at The Oval after Hayley Matthews conceded just three runs off the last three balls of the match.

While Spirit needed nine in the final set, Matthews’ international teammate Deandra Dottin hit a four off the first ball before adding a single off the next delivery.

Matthews hit back, trapping Nadine de Klerk at deep mid-wicket for 13 and keeping new batsman Charlie Dean to a single.

Dottin could only clip Matthews’ final delivery down the leg side, fighting for two as the two teams played out their second draw in three years.

The south London franchise, who picked up their first points of the season after losing their first three matches, reached 151-4 after being put into bat.

Melie Kerr scored an unbeaten 32-ball 49 from number three, adding 46 with captain Hollie Armitage (23) and an unbroken stand of 54 with Chinelle Henry, who hit two fours and two sixes in a 12-ball 33.

Henry then had opener Grace Harris caught by Armitage off the first ball of the reply, but Amy Jones steadied the Spirit’s innings.

The visiting goalkeeper also scored 49, off a total of 36 balls, forming partnerships of 68 with Marie Kelly (45) and 51 with Marizanne Kapp (25).

Spirit looked well prepared, needing 33 off 26 balls, before losing Jones and Kapp in the space of four deliveries.

Kapp edged Matthews off Dani Gregory immediately after hitting a six, while Jones swept Kirstie Gordon to Nicola Carey in the back square immediately after hitting a four through the covers.

MI remained in the hunt, conceding 19 of the next 17 balls, setting up the dramatic final set in which Spirit finished on 151-5.

The home team leaves the bottom of the table, with their two points putting them above the Birmingham Phoenix in net run rate.

The Spirit rise above Welsh Fire and Sunrisers Leeds to occupy fourth place, with one win, one loss and one draw from their three matches.