London Spirit’s bowlers produced a magical display as they climbed off the floor more than once to secure a first-ever win over their capital rivals Oval Invincibles in the women’s Hundred.

Amelia Kerr led the chase for wickets with 3-16, while Tara Norris and England spinner Charlie Dean returned 2-19 and 2-20 respectively as Spirit comfortably defended a total of 118-9, bowling out Oval Invincibles for 97 to win by 21 runs.

It represented a marvellous fightback by the north London franchise who had been 31-4, 53-6 and 87-9 at points of their own batting innings before a last wicket stand of 31 between Lauren Filer and Norris gave them something to bowl at.

Marizanne Kapp was the pick of the home attack with 2-13, with Mady Villiers and Ryana Macdonald-Gay also claiming two scalps apiece.

Invincibles never got going in what was an insipid chase with only Kapp (30) showing any real intent.

Home skipper Suzie Bates invited Spirit to bat first and Kapp immediately justified the choice by bowling Niamh Holland second ball with one which pitched on middle stump and hit off.

Kapp bowled 10 off the reel and wasn’t finished there, returning from the opposite end to see off England skipper Heather Knight caught and bowled for just five.

Spirit’s next wound was self-inflicted, poor calling and Keystone Cops-style running ending up with both batters mid-pitch, Grace Harris becoming the sacrificial lamb from Macdonald Gay’s throw.

Inspired by her fielding, Macdonald-Gay, who took four wickets on her last appearance at the Kia Oval, then castled Kerr, leaving Spirit 31-4.

Danielle Gibson produced a few defiant blows only to be caught and bowled by Sophia Smale and when Richa Ghosh found the safe hands of Macdonald-Gay at extra cover five balls later the visitors were 53-6.

Sarah Glenn and Dean mustered some resistance but departed in quick succession and only a late thrash by England speedster Filer (21 not out) including the innings’ only six lifted Spirit over three figures.  

Invincibles made a nervy start in reply, with Lauren Winfield-Hill holing out at deep mid-wicket and despite a towering six from new batter Alice Capsey, just 23 came from the powerplay.

Capsey didn’t last much longer, top-edging one to mid-off from the bowling of Kerr and with fellow spinners Glenn and Dean proving equally frugal it was 27 balls between boundaries struck by Kapp.

Bates’s torturous innings ended with a mishit to short third and 53 were needed from the final 30. Knight failed to cling on to a Kapp mishit, but Paige Scholfield holed out in the deep to give Norris her second wicket as the pressure mounted.

Kapp’s luck ran out when she skied a simple catch to depart for 30 and by the time Cordelia Griffiths was run out by Holland’s throw the game was up for the hosts.

Filer said: “The pitch was good, and spin was really effective on it. We found it very hard to get their spinners away and spin came to the fore when we bowled as well.

“It was good to get up to get up to that total. It was the sort of score we were aiming for, especially after we lost a few quick wickets. From previous times when people have played here 120 is not a bad score, so we felt quite confident.

“Tara (Norris) has to have credit for her part in the last-wicket partnership and we ran together pretty well. The first eight or nine balls I couldn’t find the middle but found it in the last set of five. I feel like I’m a go big or go home sort of batter, but I’ve tried to work technically on it as well.”