London Spirit squeeze home in tight finish after all-round show holds off Phoenix
Eve Jones top-scored for the home side but a total of 128 was never quite enough
Eve Jones top-scored for the home side but a total of 128 was never quite enough
Scorer: Chandan Duorah | Commentator: Alan Gardner
5.55pm: On we go then, no time to dwell. There's always another 100 balls on the horizon! They'll be tossing up in the men's game very shortly, so head over to keep Andrew Miller company and fingers crossed for another decent contest. Cheerio!
5.50pm: Well, it was tighter than it looked like being, but eventually won with four balls to spare after Dani Gibson boshed a couple of no-nonsense boundaries. Phoenix's total always looked a little light and although they kept taking wickets, Spirit stayed level to sneak home in the final set. A second competitive finish between the women, but the home side couldn't turn the support to their advantage here.
Eve Jones is Hero of the Match: "Yeah, got off to a slow start but managed to catch up. Pleasing to get some runs but disappointed with the result. Two really good games to start the women's comp off. [Advice from captain] Said be positive and play my shots. We thought we wanted 140 when batting, so probably left 10 runs out there. [Crowd] Brilliant to play in front of this many people, really good to have some noise behind us."
Georgia Elwiss to bowl the last set, one run needed. Gibson didn't need to get off strike after all!
Out comes Danielle Gordon, six balls left and she just wants to get off strike
CE Dean run out 3 (14m 4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 75.00
And now Phoenix are told they have to have an extra fielder inside the ring, because they've missed the cut-off. So six inside and three allowed outside
Last ten balls from the Pavilion End, seven needed. Kirstie Gordon to bowl
England star's quarantine period means she will miss London derby against Oval on Sunday
Eve Jones top-scored for the home side but a total of 128 was never quite enough