Alice Capsey whacked her second half-century in this year’s edition of The Hundred as Oval Invincibles eased to a 40-run victory over winless Welsh Fire.
Capsey’s 55 off 34 balls featured seven fours and one six as she provided the backbone of the Invincibles’ imposing total of 150-6.
It was the 21-year-old’s second fifty in as many matches following a lean run which had seen her score just one half-century in her past 32 T20 or Hundred innings.
Capsey has also struggled in England colours this summer with five single-figure scores in six T20 international innings, but this was another outing brimming with confident strokeplay.
It was almost a shock when Capsey was out – the crowd stunned when she was dismissed caught and bowled by Shabnim Ismail, who bagged 2-31.
Marizanne Kapp took over where Capsey left off and boosted the total with an unbeaten 47 off 32 balls while Hayley Matthews bowled tightly to collect 2-18.
Set the highest chase in the women’s tournament at The Oval – and the fourth highest overall – Fire lost the dangerous Matthews early on for 12.
Sophia Dunkley carried the charge and looked well poised to make a fist of it with a knock of 56 off 41 balls.
But when she chipped Sophia Smale into the hands of Phoebe Franklin at long-off with the score on 90-6 and 29 balls Fire’s hopes were effectively extinguished.
Capsey also impressed with the ball, finishing with 2-16, as Fire were bowled out for 111 with Smale the pick of the attack after she snaffled 3-13.
Invincibles’ win lifts them up a place to fourth spot, level on eight points with fifth-placed Manchester Originals, while Fire are bottom on zero.