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Josef Rindl
Â鶹Éç Sport cricket writer

Northern Superchargers ended table-topping Southern Brave's 100% winning record with a 20-run victory, but agonisingly missed out on a spot in Friday's eliminator on net run-rate.

After posting 145-6, the Superchargers needed to keep the Brave's chase to fewer than 99 runs to leapfrog Manchester Originals into third, but last year's runners-up struck 125-9 in reply.

A win would have seen the Brave advance straight to Saturday's final as table toppers; instead their loss means they will have to play Trent Rockets in the eliminator after Oval Invincibles beat Manchester Originals on Wednesday.

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In a thrilling match at Headingley, Laura Wolvaardt struck 50 off 35 balls as the Superchargers made their third highest total of this year's competition in their must-win encounter.

The visitors slipped to 9-2, 28-3 and 57-4 in reply before Sophia Dunkley rallied, scoring a measured 38 off 30.

The hosts' unlikely qualification chances looked on when Dunkley was caught superbly in the field by Heather Graham to leave the Brave on 64-6 after 63 balls.

But Amanda-Jade Wellington, who struck 25 off 10, helped bring up the Brave's 100 with 21 balls remaining.

Last year's runners-up needed 35 runs off the final 10 deliveries but good death bowling from the Superchargers ensured they finished the competition in fifth with three wins from six matches.

What else happened?

• Brave's Wellington took 3-17 off her 20 balls, the third time the Australian has taken three wickets in an innings in this year's Hundred.
• Superchargers' Alyssa Healy (17 off 12), Graham (26 off 19) and Jenny Gunn (15 off seven) all contributed useful partnerships with Wolvaardt.
• Katie Levick was the pick of the Superchargers' bowlers taking 2-10, the fifth consecutive game she has taken at least one wicket.
• Graham backed up her runs in the first innings and brilliant catch in the field with a stunning direct hit from the deep to remove Wellington.

Southern Brave captain Anya Shrubsole: "Really frustrated. We had it in our hands to get straight through to the final but now we have to sit back and see what happens.

"I don't think I will watch it [the Originals-Invincibles game]. I will keep an eye on it and watch our men's team here. We have lost the right to be in control of what happens and for a few hours I will be a massive Manchester Originals fan.

"I want people to be disappointed, it is important to feel that emotion. It will sharpen our focus. I don't think it was complacency we were just outplayed and that is the reality in this tournament."

Melissa Story
Â鶹Éç Radio commentator

I do genuinely think it has such an impact on your momentum as a team. We saw the faces on the Brave bench and there will be some stern words after this game.

It's a quick turnaround whether they go into the eliminator or the final and it can be hard to shake off a defeat like that.

Match hero Laura Wolvaardt on Sky Sports: "It was lots of fun. We needed to restrict them to a bit less to qualify for the play-offs so it's bittersweet but I'm happy to have beaten a really good side today.

"The ball always comes on quite nicely here at Headingley, I'm glad that this is my home ground. I thought the girls played exceptionally well, our fielding was excellent.

"It wasn't the ideal start for us but we just had to take it as deep as we could and Jenny hit some bombs at the end there.#

"The fight from the girls today was incredible, we were giving it our all to restrict them to what we needed to but it just didn't quite go to plan."

After the first match of the day the top spot is still up for grabs. Oval Invincibles have their destiny in their own hands.

Image source, Â鶹Éç Sport

Melissa Story
Â鶹Éç Radio commentator

It's a deserved win for the Superchargers. They've taken wickets at regular intervals and this result just shows the Brave are not invincible.

Stephan Shemilt
Â鶹Éç Sport chief cricket writer at Headingley

The Northern Superchargers have won. They've beaten the table toppers, Southern Brave, quite comprehensively but they are out of the competition. They climb up to six points but it is not enough to overtake Trent Rockets.

Manchester Originals now have the chance leapfrog the Rockets when they take on Oval Invincibles, who themselves have the chance to top the group after Brave's defeat here.

SUPERCHARGERS WIN BY 20 RUNSpublished at 14:06 British Summer Time 31 August 2022

14:06 BST 31 August 2022

Carla Rudd can only nudge a single off the final two balls and Northern Superchargers have won by 20 runs.

The Superchargers players form a huddle in the middle. They may be out of the competition but they have ended on a high here.

For Brave this is a first Hundred defeat since last year's final and they now face a nervous wait to see if they will stay top and qualify directly for the final, or be bundled into the eliminator.

Shrubsole dropped on 11published at 3 balls left

3 balls left

Brave 124-8

Anya Shrubsole lobs the ball up to Alice Davidson-Richards at long-on but she cannot hold onto the catch diving forward!

Clever bowling from Alice Davidson-Richards as she bowls two slower balls that deceives Lauren Bell for two dot balls.

Brave need 24 runs from the final set from Jenny Gunn.

Lauren Bell has a huge smile on her face as she follows Anya Shrubsole's lead and smacks the ball through mid-wicket for four.

Great shot!

Melissa Story
Â鶹Éç Radio commentator

Strong bottom hand from Shrubsole. It was a bit of a hoick but a hoick that brings six.

Brave 117-8published at 9 balls left

9 balls left

29 runs needed

A huge swing from Anya Shrubsole connects perfectly with the ball and it flies over mid-wicket for six!

A few more of those and things could get interesting...

Melissa Story
Â鶹Éç Radio commentator

Is this a bit of a wake-up call for the Brave? Their competition has not been smooth, they've been in close games, but they're used to winning. Sometimes you need a bit of a reality check.

Stephan Shemilt
Â鶹Éç Sport chief cricket writer at Headingley

The Brave, the table-toppers and undefeated before today, could be headed towards the knockout stages with a whimper.

New batter Anya Shrubsole gets off the mark with a clip down to Heather Graham at long-on. They wisely decide against the second run after what Graham did a few balls ago.

15 balls to go. 38 runs needed for Brave. Will they do it?

Stephan Shemilt
Â鶹Éç Sport chief cricket writer at Headingley

Brilliant work from the boundary. A direct hit from long on. The Superchargers might be going out but Heather Graham has still provided that bit of magic.