Fire vs N S-Chargers, Eliminator at London, Women's Hundred, Aug 26 2023 - Ball by Ball Commentary

Right, I shall leave you with those thoughts. And on cue, bright sunshine returns to The Oval! Such an impressive career for Hartley, not an ideal result today. But such is life. Don't forget that the men's game is around and do join us for that. For now, this is Sudarshanan signing off. Ciao!

4:44pm Match abandoned! There was another flash of lightning and perhaps the umpires also felt we couldn't have got underway for a five-set game at 5:11pm. Sad exit for Fire, who turned around two wooden-spoon finishes magnificently to make the Eliminator this year. Superchargers set finals date with Brave at Lord's tomorrow.

Unfortunate end today, but there is more Hundred action in store. The boundary cushions at The Oval are being pushed back for the men's game that is scheduled to start in under two hours.

That also is curtains to Alex Hartley's professional career. She is in the studio with Kate Cross for a chat. "Feel so good to put the old dogs up," says Hartley, "Would have been so good to sign off with a win. Can't look past the World Cup final. Was a dream to play cricket for England, can't look past that."

"She has done brilliantly and has retired for what, 123 times now?" says Cross. "I have said it a few times, she plays with a smile on her face. Played together for Lancashire and got to play her final game at Headingley."

"The game is moving at a speed I can't keep up with anymore," Hartley adds. "The game is professional and I have a broadcasting career too."

4:40pm The rain has stopped. Will mop ups be done with in another 30 minutes, though? The officials are having a chat with both the captains.

4:28pm Very very heavy rain, can almost hear it through the broadcast. Could also hear the thunder from the broadcast. Bleak!

Saurabh M: "@Sudarshanan who goes through if this gets washed out ??" That will be that for Fire and Superchargers will go through as they finished second on the points table after the league stage

4:24pm Raining properly now, says Paul from the venue. Very little scope for a 75-ball chase. The start time for a 25-ball chase is 5:11pm

4:19pm Curtains for Welsh Fire innings! Beaumont waged a tough battle with 37 and was just kinda getting into next gear. Larris was also was in her elements today. Sadly for Fire, that is that. We still have to hear about the target, resumption and the length of this game, but sadly for Fire, their time with the bat is done

That Cross over was just changing momentum after Superchargers largely had Fire in check. Spinners Higham and Wareham were hard to hit, and Rodrigues had suggested when mic'd up that there was enough purchase on it for spinners. Our scorer Venkat Raghav chimes that a 75-ball target for Superchargers would be 118. How will the chase pan out? More importantly, will we have a chase? Here's Miller's seaweed making an appearance

4:17pm "The players will not return to field until 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunder strike unless the match officials are confident the storm has passed i.e. blue skies," is the official word

4:08pm Bad news! Lightning forces covers to come on the field. Gloomy, dark clouds over the ground and there is forecast for more. No rain just yet

Strategic time-out!

Cross to perhaps bowl two of the last five sets

Laura Harris in at No. 4

Last set for Ballinger, around the stumps. Armitage mindful of denying spin to Matthews

SACHU: "Ball 57 is the quickest third umpire decision I've ever seen"

Davidson-Richards

Ballinger