Southern Brave Women make it two from two; beat Sunrisers Leeds

Southern Brave made it two from two after Jemimah Rodrigues’ classy knock saw her side to a five-wicket victory over SunRisers Leeds at Headingley with four balls to spare.

Having been set 117 for victory, Rodrigues judged the chase to perfection, making an unbeaten 42 from 34 deliveries and receiving valuable support from Australia captain Sophie Molineux, who made 21 from 17 balls.

Brave appeared to be wobbling at 36-3 after Cassidy McCarthy (2-14) had dismissed the dangerous opening pair of Lizelle Lee and Maia Bouchier and Dani Gibson picked up the prize scalp of Laura Wolvaardt, but Rodrigues and Molineux steadied the ship with a fourth-wicket stand of 35.

After Molineux fell to Jess Jonassen courtesy of a fine low catch from Deepti Sharma and Annabel Sutherland removed Jodi Grewcock with a well-disguised slower ball, it fell to Naomi Dattani to hit the winning runs and continue Brave’s strong start to the campaign.

Earlier, Bryony Smith’s 34-ball 48 had formed the bedrock of SunRisers’ total of 116, the opener striking six fours and a six in an enterprising innings.Smith received useful support from Sutherland (22 from 19) before falling to the impressive England quick Issy Wong (3-15). That brought Deepti Sharma to the wicket, and the Indian allrounder's cameo of 23 from 14 balls helped SunRisers to a competitive score, though it ultimately proved in vain as her compatriot Rodrigues played the game’s decisive knock.

Rodrigues, the Meerkat Match Hero, said: “Our bowlers were outstanding under pressure. It wasn’t my most pleasing innings but the team won, and that’s all that matters. It was a good pitch, but some balls held up. I felt I wasn’t timing it well but I just needed to be there and build partnerships. One of the best things about this team is that it’s calm. I’m confident we’ll keep it the same.”