KOWLOON: Captain Nicola Carey scored an astounding fifty before Ayabonga Khaka wreaked havoc with the ball to help Spirit beat Sapphires by 12 runs in a low-scoring match of the FairBreak invitational 2023 on Friday.
Electing to field first, the Sapphires put up an excellent bowling effort to contain Spirit to 121/8 in the 20 overs despite Carey’s 52 from 34.
However, in reply, Sana Mir-led side could only manage 109 for 9 as South Africa’s Khaka claimed four wickets to take her side in command.
England’s Katherine Sciver-Brunt set up a solid resistance as she played a valiant 47-run after the top-order debacle, however, in the end, all her efforts proved to be a futile exercise in the absence of a meaningful backup from the other end.
Apart from Khakha’s brilliant figures of 4 for 13 which also included a maiden over, Nensi Patel, Shizuka Miyaji, Nicola Carey and Gargi Bhogle took a scalp each.
Earlier, Spirit also witnessed a dismal display from the batting lineup as none of the batters, except the skipper, truly looked in control. Carey smashed five fours and three maximums during her standout knock.
Opener Sarah Bryce (12 off 18) and Mahika Gaur (18 off 14) and Gargi Bhogle (12 off 13) were the only other batters who crossed into double figures.
For Sapphires, Katherine, Geetika Kodali and captain Sana Mir grabbed two wickets each while Shabnim Ismail and Erin Burns had a scalp too.
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