Rare defeat at home for Southern Brave Women

Southern Brave faced a minor hiccup for their charge towards a direct qualification for the final as they were stopped by a spirited performance by the Manchester Super Giants.

After the Super Giants posted 139, the Brave’s openers Lizelle Lee and Maia Bouchier eased into their work initially, posting 36 in the powerplay to set a base from which to attack. But when the pair departed soon after, Lee falling to a superb boundary catch from Mady Villiers and Bouchier to the dreaded run out at the non-striker’s end, the visitors came alive.Sophie Ecclestone, Bex Tyson and Villiers bowled beautifully to shackle the Brave in the middle third, with Villiers, bowling with great loop and guile, upending Sophie Molineux via a marginal stumping from Richa Ghosh and then getting the big one of Laura Wolvaardt for a 28-ball 36. A third wicket for Villiers, Charli Knott top-edging to Grace Ballinger on the 45, brought her the exceptional figures of 3-17 from her full quota.On a turning track, the Super Giants did well to get up to 139. Hefty contributions from Smriti Mandhana, who made 46, and Ghosh underscored the innings, with the latter, promoted to No.3 in the order, registering her maiden half-century in the competition, the Indian superstars combining for precisely 100 of the team's overall total, while Issy Wong was the pick of the Brave’s bowlers, returning tidy figures of 2-24, removing both Indian players in quick succession.While for the Brave, a rare defeat at home means they now need to win big on Monday against Trent Rockets to guarantee the top spot in the table. Nevertheless the qualification for the knockouts is now sealed.