Northern Superchargers vs London Spirit at Leeds (Headingley) on 14 August (11h00)
The fifth match women’s match of ‘The Hundred’ was billed by commentators not only as a ‘must win’ showdown, with both teams eager for their first win; but also as a personal showdown between Alyssa Healy (Australia’s gold-medallist) and Jemimah Rodrigues (India’s silver-medallist); for top batting honours. On the day, ‘match hero’ medal went to England hopeful Bess Heath (pictured) who outperformed her peers with ‘fifty,’ for Superchargers. Match was broadcast via SKY Sports YouTube channel – please see below – with Mel Jones (Australia), Shaun Pollock (South Africa), Dominic Cork and Nasser Hussain. Also ESPN-cric-info (S Sudarshanan & Ekanth) and other social media. Weather at Headingley was a hot summer’s day, with high clouds and blue sky 24-28C.
Superchargers’ innings Skipper Hollie Armitage told Dominic Cork there were no changes. *Spirit’s stand-in skipper Charlie Dean kicked-off with a dot-ball maiden. *Disappointment struck the home crowd when Jemimah Rodrigues (2) was clean-bowled by Freya Davies’ fourth ball, from a ‘fuller’ length. *Alyssa Healy 22(17) hit Davies for 6-4-2; but was caught inside the boundary by Alice Monaghan from Amelia Kerr’s (NZ) first ‘full-toss.’ *Bess Heath 57(34) made top-score and was said to have ‘played brilliantly,’ launching Charlie Dean for the second six of Superchargers’ innings. *An ‘important breakthrough’ came when Heath was caught behind by keeper Natasha Wraith from Grace Scrivens’ spin. *Hollie Armitage came down the wicket and was easily caught by Australia’s gold-medallist Megan Schutt at ‘long-on,’ Armitage deceived by Amelia Kerr’s ‘googly.’ *South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt 24*(29) failed ‘to get the ball off-the-square,’ but saw Superchargers through to a defendable score, scampering ‘ones’ and ‘twos’.
Spirit’s innings *Stand-in skipper Charlie Dean (for Heather Knight.) *Opener Australia’s gold-medalist Beth Mooney was dropped (caught-and-bowled chance) from Lucy Higham’s fourth ball. *After 30 balls, Spirit were ahead 42/0 (vs 28/2.) *Openers Beth Mooney 30(20) and Grace Scrivens 18(18) bagged 48 runs until Scrivens was ’leg before’ (upon review) from Linsey Smith. *Disaster struck after 40 balls, when Alice Davidson-Richards threatened a ‘hat-trick’ from back-to-back wickets. *Firstly, Beth Mooney was ‘run out’ expertly by keeper Alyssa Healy from Beth Langston’s wayward throw, said to be ‘three-yards-wide.’ *Secondly, Dani Gibson top-edged first-ball to Katie Levick at ‘fine-leg.’ *The strength of Spirit’s challenge receded by mid-way 57/3 (vs. 54/2); rejuvenating vociferous interest from the home crowd.
*Spirit’s run-chase faltered during the second-half. *More wickets fell as Amelia Kerr (16) was caught at ‘long-off’ from Alice Davidson-Richards; at which point commentators foresaw ‘real trouble’ for Spirit who (then) needed 43 runs from 27 balls. Naomi Dattani 5(8) lobbed Lucy Higham’s full-toss straight to Laura Wolvaardt at ‘deep mid-wicket.’ *Strategic time-out taken with 10 balls to go: needing 23 from the last 10 balls. *During the penultimate over, Alice Monaghan was run out by a direct-hit, launched by Laura Wolvaardt from ‘two-thirds of the way’ to the boundary line, from Linsey Smith. Bowling the ’death over’Alice Davidson-Richards’ (2/20) took pace off the ball to bag Charlie Dean (5.) Facing ADR’s final ball, Natasha Wraith scored a ’single’ when ’six’ was needed to tie the match. Sophie Luff 39*(30) who’d faced fewer balls, remained unbeaten at the non-striker’s end.
Summary Commentators’s curse struck as soon as Nasser Hussain said he’d put money ‘on the London team,’ who ‘dropped a few catches’ that cost them the match. POTM Bess Heath made top-score and was said by commentators to have ‘played brilliantly’ for her half-century. No one could have predicted that Heath would out-score Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney and Jemimah Rodrigues – when all added together. Rodrigues was clean-bowled, Beth Mooney was skilfully ‘run out’ by Alyssa Healy. Healy herself fell to the first-ball from Amelia Kerr. Beth Mooney’s dismissal followed by Dani Gibson’s next-ball dismissal changed the visitor’s fortunes as England’s latest recruit Alice Davidson-Richards took both their wickets with two balls. That was said to stop Spirit’s run chase dead in its tracks. Returning for her death over, Davidson-Richards took the match down to the final ball, with added pressure of having an extra fielder standing inside the ring.
Result: Northern Superchargers Women 127/4 beat London Spirit Women 122/7 (target 128 from 100 balls) by 5 runs
Superchargers batting 127/4 (100 balls, 1.27 runs-per-ball) Bess Heath 57(34), Laura Wolvaardt 24*(29), Alyssa Healy 22(17), Hollie Armitage 16(12); Spirit bowling: Amelia Kerr 2/27, Grace Scrivens 1/5, Freya Davies 1/29. Fow 1-8, 2-26, 3-96, 4-119. Spirit batting: 122/7 (100 balls 1.22 runs-per-ball) Sophie Luff 39*(30), Beth Mooney 30(20), Grace Scrivens 18(18), Amelia Kerr 16(15); Superchargers bowling: Alice Davidson-Richards 2/20, Katie Levick 1/8, Lucy Higham 1/28; Fow 1-48, 2-55, 3-55, 4-85, 5-104, 6-113, 7-121.
Scorecard & Statistics at URL: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/the-hundred-women-s-competition-2022-1299144/northern-superchargers-women-vs-london-spirit-women-5th-match-1299149/full-scorecard
Match video free-to-air from SKY Sports YouTube [31m00/3h27m20] at URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxptqr8yRgE
