After their stirring run to the title, Oval Invincibles are well represented in ESPNcricinfo’s selection
Matt Roller22-Aug-2021Jemimah Rodrigues: Northern Superchargers
Rodrigues was given only two opportunities across India’s tour of England so had a point to prove in the Hundred. Her season started with a boundary-laden 92 not out off 43 balls and she was the leading run-scorer in the group stages, scoring heavily – in particular through the covers, lofting over the infield – while maintaining an eye-catching strike rate. Upstaged her more established international team-mates.Dane van Niekerk: Oval Invincibles, captain
Led from the front for Invincibles, playing a match-winning hand on the opening night and reaping the rewards of her attacking captaincy in the final. Anchored with the bat, shuffling up the order mid-season, and kept Invincibles’ knockout hopes alive while both Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail were out injured. Kept things tight with the ball through the middle.Sophia Dunkley (Southern Brave)
Dunkley’s breakthrough summer extended into the Hundred with a series of key innings at No. 3 during Brave’s dominant winning streak in the group stages. Composed in run chases and flourished on the hybrid pitches at the Ageas Bowl, hitting through the line. Final was effectively over when she edged Kapp to second slip.Related
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Nat Sciver: Trent Rockets
Her team underwhelmed but Sciver was a consistent performer from No. 3, making between 27 and 54 in her first five innings of the tournament and batting with the attacking intent and fluency that have become her trademark. Surprisingly ineffective with the ball but in this team for her batting.Amy Jones: Birmingham Phoenix, wicketkeeper
Never made a match-defining score but Jones’ attacking intent from the middle order was a major factor in Phoenix’s run to the eliminator. She is beginning to nail her new role after shuffling down the England order last year and makes batting looks effortless when in full flow. Led well, keeping spirits high despite a slow start to the season, and sharp glovework standing up helped her complete six stumpings.Alice Capsey: Oval Invincibles
Capsey’s 59 off 41 balls in the London derby at Lord’s was one of the defining innings of the tournament, made shortly before her 17th birthday, and she batted with freedom throughout the season, playing two important cameos in the knockout stages from the middle order. Her quick offbreaks proved effective, to the extent that she was backed to bowl ahead of England’s Mady Villiers by the latter stages of the competition. A remarkable breakthrough – international selection is a matter of time.Marizanne Kapp: Oval Invincibles
Missed half the season due to a thigh injury but beats Sammy-Jo Johnson and Hayley Matthews to the third overseas spot in this team after her starring role across the knockout stages: Kapp steadied the ship with 37 then took 3 for 21 in Friday’s eliminator, then whacked 26 off 14 balls and decimated Brave with 4 for 9 in Saturday’s final. Difficult year recovering from long-term effects of Covid-19 and managing an ongoing heart problem but this was a stunning individual effort.Kate Cross: Manchester Originals
Manchester Originals captain led the way from the start, hitting the Hundred’s first six then taking three early wickets in their opening-night defeat. Her team started slowly but eventually missed out on the knockouts by a single point and Cross’ success with the new ball, nipping it off the seam and hitting career-best speeds of 75mph/121kph will not have gone unnoticed by England.ESPNcricinfo LtdTash Farrant: Oval Invincibles
Has a player ever responded so well to losing a central contract? Farrant has come on in leaps and bounds since early 2019, developing a repertoire of slower balls and perfecting her yorker to become one of England’s leading death bowlers as well as swinging the new ball. Finished clear at the top of the wicket-taking charts and avenged bittersweet memories of watching 2017 World Cup final from the stands at Lord’s by playing her part in a crushing win.Lauren Bell: Southern Brave
Beanpole seamer found hooping inswing with the new ball throughout the season but has added another dimension to her game and took crucial wickets through the middle, several with deceptive back-of-the-hand slower balls. Bell has clearly benefited from the ideal mentor in Anya Shrubsole and will play for England before long.Kirstie Gordon: Birmingham Phoenix
Took wickets in eight out of nine games and picked up big names including Heather Knight, Lizelle Lee and Sciver. Gordon has slipped down the pecking order over the last two years when it comes to England’s T20 spinners but she outdid several of those ahead of her during the Hundred. Her partnership with Abtaha Maqsood, a fellow Scot, was a major part of Phoenix’s attack.
