Harris stars as London Spirit make it three in three

London Spirit Women edged past Manchester Originals by three wickets in a low-scoring contest at Old Trafford. Grace Harris' power-packed fifty proved decisive in hauling the visitors over the line with two balls to spare as Spirit registered their third win in as many attempts.

Chasing 123, Spirit were rocked early when Georgia Redmayne (11) and Danielle Gibson (0) fell in quick succession to leave them 27/2. Kira Chathli held firm with a steady 34 off 30, building a partnership with Harris to push the score past fifty. Once Chathli departed, Harris took charge, counter-attacking with clean hitting – five fours and two sixes – to keep the chase on track.

However, the Originals kept chipping away as Amelia Kerr (2-17) and Kathryn Bryce (2-26) triggered a collapse from 97/4 to 114/7, removing key middle-order batters including Cordelia Griffith and Charlie Dean in the space of two balls. With nine runs still needed and three wickets in hand, Sarah Glenn joined Harris and struck two boundaries to seal victory in 98 balls, with Harris finishing unbeaten on 50 off 32.

Earlier, asked to bat, Originals' innings got off to a shaky start with wickets falling regularly. Bryce departed for just 2 after being caught behind off Tara Norris, followed quickly by Amelia Kerr's run-out for 1. Captain Beth Mooney contributed 26 from 20 with five boundaries before being caught at short fine leg attempting a sweep off Dean. Seren Smale was bowled by Glenn a short while later, reducing Originals to 46/4.

Fi Morris and Deandra Dottin steadied the ship with a 31-run stand but the former fell to a fine catch from Glenn at backward point, giving Charli Knott a wicket. Dottin then guided the team through to the close of innings, adding 45 with Alice Monaghan that pushed the total beyond 120. Dottin top-scored with 36 from 30 while Monaghan hit a run-a-ball 18 not out to help Originals post a fighting score, although it proved insufficient in the end.

Brief scores:
Manchester Originals 122/6 in 100 balls (Deandra Dottin 36, Beth Mooney 26; Charlie Dean 2-18) lost to London Spirit 124/7 in 98 balls (Grace Harris 50*, Kira Chathli 34; Amelia Kerr 2-17, Kathryn Bryce 2-26) by 3 wickets.