London Spirit Women vs Oval Invincibles Women: The Hundred 2025 Match Preview and Predictions (Aug 5, 2025)
Cricket fans are in for an exciting afternoon at Lord’s Cricket Ground when London Spirit Women host Oval Invincibles Women in the 2025 edition of The Hundred. This opening clash will be played at the iconic ground in St John’s Wood, London on Tuesday 5 August 2025. Local supporters can catch the action from 14:45 BST, while fans in India can tune in at 19:15 IST. The match promises a vibrant atmosphere in the famous north‑London venue as two of the strongest sides in the women’s competition face off in the 100‑ball format.
Form Guide
Both teams enjoyed impressive campaigns in 2024 and will be eager to set the tone for their 2025 season. Here is a look at their recent form:
London Spirit Women
The Spirit finished strongly last season, reaching the eliminator and pushing the eventual champions hard. Their last five matches in 2024 yielded four wins, including victories over Fire, Northern Superchargers and Originals. Their only slip‑up came when they were edged by Oval Invincibles in the final group game.
- Four wins in their last five – convincingly beating Fire, Originals and Superchargers, and winning the eliminator.
- Strong batting line‑up – Heather Knight topped the run charts for Spirit in 2024 with 271 runs at an average of 45.2 and a strike rate of 137.6.
- Bowling core firing – leg‑spinner Sarah Glenn was their leading wicket‑taker with 13 wickets at an economy rate of 6.8.
Oval Invincibles Women
The Invincibles are perennial challengers in The Hundred. They finished third last season and lost to Spirit in the eliminator but won three of their last five matches, including a comfortable win over Rockets and a tight victory against Spirit earlier in the group stage.
-
- Three wins in their last five – beating Rockets, London Spirit and Originals while losing narrowly to Brave and Spirit in the eliminator.
- Balanced batting unit – Alice Capsey (222 runs) and Marizanne Kapp (207 runs) led their scoring charts.
- All‑round strength – Kapp also topped their wicket tally with 11 wickets at an economy rate of 5.92.
Key Players
London Spirit Women
-
- Grace Harris – The Australian power‑hitter joined Spirit last season and made an immediate impact. Her ability to accelerate in the middle overs and exploit the shorter boundaries at Lord’s could be decisive. Harris is also a useful off‑spinner who adds balance to the side.
- Deepti Sharma – One of India’s premier all‑rounders, Sharma’s ability to bowl tight off‑spin and bat with composure makes her a valuable asset. She collected 253 runs at a strike rate of 132 and claimed key wickets in the 2024 campaign.
- Sarah Glenn – The leg‑spinner is a wicket‑taking threat and her 13 wickets last year show how effective she can be at Lord’s. She thrives on variation and will look to tie down Invincibles’ middle order.
Oval Invincibles Women
-
-
- Marizanne Kapp – The South African veteran is arguably the most complete cricketer in this competition. She scored 207 runs and took 11 wickets in 2024, and her experience in high‑pressure matches will be crucial.
- Ryana Macdonald‑Gay – A promising fast bowler who took nine wickets last season at an economy of 5.25. She swings the new ball and can be deadly in the powerplay.
- Meg Lanning – The Australian superstar brings vast international experience and a calm head. Her ability to anchor the innings and accelerate when required makes her a key figure for the Invincibles.
-
Pitch and Weather Conditions
Lord’s Cricket Ground offers a unique playing surface that has evolved over the past seasons of The Hundred. In 2024 the average first‑innings score was around 127 runs, while in 2023 and 2022 it was lower at 125.5 and 95.5 respectively. Teams batting second have enjoyed much more success, winning more than 80 % of matches at Lord’s. These figures underscore the importance of chasing under lights and adjusting to dew later in the innings.
The wicket generally offers good pace and carry, but spinners often come into play as the innings progresses. In 2024, spin bowlers averaged 19.19 compared with fast bowlers’ 22.45, and the spinner’s economy rate was also better at 6.89. Expect teams to pack their sides with spin options and use the slower ball variations.
Weather conditions in London around 5 August are forecast to be sunny with temperatures around 22 °C and only a small chance of rain. Such dry conditions should ensure an even bounce and make batting easier, although dew later in the evening (around the 19:15 IST start time for Indian viewers) could aid the chasing side.
London Spirit Women v Oval Invincibles Women: Prediction
This match pits two evenly matched sides against each other. London Spirit will rely on their strong spin trio of Deepti Sharma, Sarah Glenn and Grace Harris to control proceedings, backed by captain Heather Knight’s stability at the top. Spirit also have the home advantage at Lord’s and will be buoyed by their four wins in the last five games. However, their batting sometimes falters if Knight and Harris fall early, so depth could be tested.
Oval Invincibles, meanwhile, boast an experienced core in Meg Lanning, Marizanne Kapp and Alice Capsey, plus the pace of Ryana Macdonald‑Gay and spin of Amanda‑Jade Wellington. They finished last season strongly and possess match‑winners in both batting and bowling. Their challenge will be adjusting to conditions early on, as many of their players are new to Lord’s.
Prediction: Given their superior record at Lord’s and strong spin attack, London Spirit Women enter as slight favourites. If they can dismiss Lanning and Capsey early, they could restrict the Invincibles to a chaseable total. Expect a closely fought contest, with Spirit edging ahead by virtue of home conditions and momentum from last season’s eliminator win.
Dream11 Fantasy Picks
-
-
-
- Deepti Sharma – Offers points with both bat and ball; her ability to bowl economical overs and contribute crucial runs makes her a safe pick.
- Marizanne Kapp – The all‑rounder’s knack for picking up wickets and finishing games with the bat provides high fantasy returns.
- Grace Harris – Capable of explosive hitting and useful off‑spin; she can change the momentum of the match in a few overs.
-
-
This opening match of The Hundred 2025 promises fireworks at Lord’s. Don’t miss the action as London Spirit Women and Oval Invincibles Women begin their campaigns; tune in at 14:45 BST (19:15 IST) for what should be a cracking start to the tournament.
