London Spirit Claim The Hundred Title with Dramatic Win Over Welsh Fire

London Spirit captured their first The Hundred title in a thrilling final against Welsh Fire, securing a four-wicket victory at Lord’s. The match, marked by a dramatic finish, saw Spirit chase down a target of 116 with just three balls to spare.

Welsh Fire set a competitive target of 116, thanks to a resilient innings from Jess Jonassen, who scored 54 from 41 balls. Despite her heroics, Fire’s innings was held in check by London Spirit’s bowlers. England spinners Sarah Glenn and Charlie Dean played pivotal roles, restricting Fire to 115-8, with Glenn and Dean combining for crucial breakthroughs.

The chase was fraught with tension as Spirit found themselves under pressure. Deepti Sharma’s pivotal moment arrived with four runs needed from the final three balls. In a dramatic finish, Sharma lofted a delivery from Fire bowler Hayley Matthews over long-on for six, sealing the win for Spirit. The match could have taken a different turn if not for a crucial missed chance by Shabnim Ismail, whose attempt to catch Sharma’s shot saw the ball burst through her hands and over the boundary.

Ismail had previously been instrumental in keeping Fire in contention, taking 3-24 and dismissing key batters Meg Lanning, Heather Knight, and Danielle Gibson. Despite her efforts, the chase proved too much for Welsh Fire.

The Spirit innings was initially driven by a solid start, but it was Gibson’s aggressive batting—hitting five fours from her first six balls—that shifted momentum. However, as Gibson was dismissed by Ismail and opener Georgia Redmayne fell to Freya Davies, the game went down to the wire. Deepti Sharma’s decisive strike ensured Spirit’s triumph, with two balls to spare.

London Spirit’s victory marks a historic moment for the team, concluding a memorable tournament with their first title in The Hundred.