Northern Superchargers vs Southern Brave at Leeds (Headingley) on 31 August (11h30)
The twenty-third women’s match of ‘The Hundred’ tournament was between Brave: expecting a sixth back-to-back win, for a free ticket to Saturday’s final; without needing to play the qualifying ‘Eliminator.’ Also Superchargers, needing to win to snatch third-place from Rockets. If Superchargers won with superior net-run-rate to Rockets, this match became a dress-rehearsal for Friday’s Eliminator between the second and third-placed teams after six group-stage matches. Practically, Superchargers needed to bowl-out Brave in less than 45 balls. Receiving POTM match hero award from Naill O’Brien, Laura Wolvaardt 50(35) was congratulated on her ‘batting masterclass.’ As guest commentator, England’s Tammy Beaumont observed that Brave made every effort to keep Wolvaardt at the bowler’s end ‘off-strike;’ but Wolvaardt ‘exploded into action’ during the second-half. Match was broadcast via SKY Sports YouTube channel – please see below – with Charles Dagnall, Robert Croft, Naill O’Brien, with guest Tammy Beaumont. Also ESPN-cric-info (Ekanth and Ashish); BBC ’No Balls’ co-hosted by Alex Hartley and other social media.
Superchargers innings
Skipper Hollie Armitage was ‘happy to bat first, with Elizabeth Russell for Beth Langston/Rachel Slater. *Commentator’s curse struck immediately when Australia’s Commonwealth Games gold medallist Alyssa Healy was first to depart, caught by at ‘extra cover’ by Sophia Dunkley from Freya Kemp 17(12.) Opening the commentary, Charles Dagnall (minus amber-tinted trade-mark specs) ‘had a hunch’ that it was ‘Healy’s Day,’ but that wasn’t to be. *Bess Heath 7 was caught ‘comfortably’ at mid-on’ by Australia’s newest recruit Tahlia McGrath, from Englands newest recruit, Lauren Bell. After 25 balls power play: 34/3 *At mid-way, Superchargers were constrained to 41/3. Strategic-time-out was called 65 balls: South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt 23* partnered by Australia’s Heather Graham 22*; on 84/3. *The next three wickets were taken by Australia’s Amanda-Jade Wellington, bagging her third 3-fer (3/17.) *Firstly Hollie Armitage 7(8) went ‘leg before;’ *Secondly, Heather Graham 24(19) also went ‘leg before,’ this time missing a reverse sweep. *Thirdly, Alice Davidson-Richards 4(6) was comfortably caught by India’s Smriti Mandhana. *When POTM match hero Laura Wolvaardt 50(35) was caught by Danni Wyatt, commentators described Wyatt’s skilfull diving technique. *Wyatt avoided landing on her elbows to avoid spilling the catch, allowing her body to straighten naturally. ‘A great catch in the deep.’ Superchargers ‘made a good finish.’
Brave Innings
Skipper Anya Shrubsole confirmed ‘no changes.’ *Openers Danni Wyatt and Smriti Mandana both went for ducks. *Wyatt was caught first-match-ball by Liz Russell for a golden duck, from Lucy Higham; ‘by no means Higham’s best ball.’ *Smriti Mandana’s third-ball duck, was caught by Australia’s Heather Graham from Linsey Smith. *Australia’s Tahlia McGrath 4(6) was clean-bowled, between ‘middle-and-leg’ by Heather Graham. *After 25 balls power play, Brave were 25/3 (vs 34/3.) *Partnered by Sophia Dunkley, Maia Bouchier 12(13) added 29 runs for Brave’s 4th wicket, until top-edged to Elizabeth Russell, from Alice Davidson-Richards. *Bouchier’s departure said to be a ‘big wicket’ at a ‘massive moment’. *At mid-way, Brave were a nose ahead 58/4 (vs.41/3) *Georgia Adams 1(3) also edged to Elizabeth Russell at slip, from Katie Levick, on 58/5. *Thereafter, Superchargers’ qualification chances evaporated and they were playing for pride. *Six runs later, top-scorer Sophia Dunkley 38(30) attempted a ’six,’ but was ’spectacularly’ caught by Heather Graham, at ‘long-off,’ from Alice Davidson-Richards (2/39.). *Dunkley stood pensively with bat-on-helmet, before making an undignified exit off-field (64/6.) *After a playing useful cameo, Amanda-Jade Wellington 25(10) was ‘run-out’ at the non-striker’s end – from a direct hit by Heather Graham. *Wellington’s bat wasn’t grounded, when running home from a mis-field. *Freya Kemp 19(19), who had a lucky escape when Katie Levick put her down (dropping a caught-and-bowled opportunity) was caught by World cup veteran Jenny Gunn; from Katie Levick. *Tammy Beaumont said that Kemp struck ‘with a twisted bat,’ but ‘without power – lobbing an easy catch’ for Gunn (111/8.) *Lauren Bell 5(5) was short-lived, caught by Heather Graham, from Jenny Gunn.
Summary
The ‘edge-of-seat’ match ended somewhat bizarrely, as although Superchargers won the match, both innings went full-term. As a consequence, Superchargers found themselves knocked out at the group stage, failing to dislodge Rockets from third place because of their lower run-rate. Reflectively, Brave skipper Shrubsole later told TV viewers that: ‘you’re not going to win’ with ‘three (wickets) down,’ and with your ‘best batters back in the shed.’ At the player level, the leading batters and bowlers didn’t disappoint. For Superchargers, POTM match hero Laura Wolvaardt was said to have given a ‘batting masterclass’ top-scoring with 50, remaining top of the batting-leader-board at the group stage. For Brave, Australia’s Amanda-Jade Wellington stays top of-the-bowling-leaderboard with 14 wickets and looks set to make a new tournament record from her ‘quality spin’ with at least one more match to play. At the next step, Brave play Rockets in the Eliminator, to decide which team top-of-table Invincibles meets to play in the tournament’s final.
Result: Northern Superchargers Women 145/6 beat Southern Brave Women 125/9 by 20 runs
Superchargers batting 145/6: (100 balls, 1.45 runs-per-ball): Laura Wolvaardt 50(35), Heather Graham 26(19), Alyssa Healy 17(12), Jenny Gunn 15*(7)Brave bowling: Amanda-Jade Wellington 3/17, Freya Kemp 1/21, Lauren Bell 1/30, Anya Shrubsole 1/33; Fow 1-21, 2-40, 3-51, 4–98, 5-117, 6-133; Brave batting 125/9 (100 balls, 1.25 runs-per-ball); Sophia Dunkley 38(30), Amanda-Jade Wellington 25(10), Freya Kemp 19(19), Maia Bouchier 12(13), Anya Shrubsole 18*(8); Superchargers bowling: Katie Levick 2/10, Alice Davidson-Richards 2/39, Linsey Smith 1/14, Jenny Gunn 1/15, Lucy Higham 1/22, Heather Graham 1/24; Fow 1-0, 2-9, 3-28, 4–57, 5-58, 6-46, 7-105, 8-111, 9-124.
Scorecard & Statistics at URL: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/the-hundred-women-s-competition-2022-1299144/northern-superchargers-women-vs-southern-brave-women-23rd-match-1299167/full-scorecard
Match highlights free-to-air from SKY Sports YouTube [07m23] at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wj2Exu3ef0
Match video free-to-air from SKY Sports YouTube [31m00/03h28m15s] at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW_I_GoabwI
