SOUTHERN Brave bowler Lauren Bell credited the legendary Anya Shrubsole after winning the women’s Hundred ahead of her retirement and labelled it a “special day”.

Danni Wyatt finished as leading runscorer as Southern Brave made it third time lucky with a 34-run win over Northern Superchargers to give Shrubsole a fairytale send-off in the final at Lord’s on Sunday.

Wyatt’s scintillating 59 from 38 balls meant she overhauled fellow England star Tammy Beaumont at the top of the standings with 295 runs in all. Freya Kemp 31 and Georgia Adams 27 lent support as Brave piled up 139-6 on a dry pitch, despite 3-21 for England speedster Kate Cross. 

Jemimah Rodrigues, starved of strike for long periods, made 24 in the chase, but Kalea Moore returned 3-15 and Bell 3-21, while there were a trio of stumpings for Rhianna Southby as Superchargers were bowled out for 105.

It meant Brave, bridesmaids in the first two finals, finally got their hands on the trophy, a fitting end to a glittering career for retiring skipper Shrubsole, who took the match-clinching wicket in England’s World Cup winning triumph against India at the home of cricket six years ago.

England ace Bell, said: "It feels a lot better to be on the winning side for sure (after losing the previous two finals).

“It was a special day for Anya (Shrubsole) and the team. There was a lot of chat about it being our third final.

“We'd not played anywhere near our best cricket before (in previous finals) and in finals it is really important to stick to your strengths and not get caught up in the moment. 

“I had flashbacks to year one and year two when we were 8-2, but this team has a lot of character. Danny and Gaz (Georgia Adams) built a really good partnership and Freya and Chloe got us to a defendable total.”

She added: “Anya is understandably emotional. She is definitely ready to retire but it is always a sad day and when it has been your life for so long it's a big thing, but we have definitely sent her off in the best way possible.

“We've shown a lot of character through this tournament and won a lot of games we shouldn't have won where we've got over the line. We know how to win and so many times someone has stepped up. That's probably why we won as we have a number of matchwinners in our team."

Manchester Originals chased down 196 to overcome Southern Brave’s men on Saturday in the Hundred eliminator, with captain Jos Buttler doing most of the damage.

Brave coach Stephen Fleming said: “It was our best batting performance by far – you’ve got to be happy with any score above 170-180. We were aware it was a good surface but we were still really happy with what we’d got.

“Things didn’t really go for us and I really liked how we tried to find a way but, with the ball being a bit wet and the ground being quick, it was difficult. With nearly 400 runs and only three or four wickets, it’s hard to find a method against one of the best in the world.

“You want to get him (Buttler) early and create some pressure. It’s almost the bigger the score, the harder he’s going to come – and, with Salt as well, the more danger they pose.

“We stuck at it, there were pockets where we could have done something and created a bit of pressure, but in the end they were too good. We asked big questions of Manchester and they came out and did it, so they were deserving.”