Manchester Originals vs Oval Invincibles at Manchester (Emirates Old Trafford) on 31 August (15h00)
The twenty-fourth women’s match of ‘The Hundred’ tournament was a closer result than expected. Win-or-lose, second-placed Invincibles were assured of playing in the next stage of the tournament. News of Brave’s shock defeat (earlier that same day), put pressure on Invincibles to think about going straight to the final to defend their title, without having to take a detour beforehand, to Southampton’s Eliminator. Originals on the other hand, had a slim chance to qualify for the play-offs, provided they chased down whatever Invincibles scored in 72 balls. Despite the result, commentators were adamant that Originals ‘never got anywhere close’ to their ambitious target. POTM match hero Suzie Bates played a skipper’s innings for Invincibles: top-scoring with 79 not out (from 47 balls); and also caught fellow New Zealander Amy Satterthwaite. After the match, skipper Bates said ‘going straight to the final’ and not (playing) the Eliminator means (Invincibles Women) could stay-on to ‘support the boys.’ Bates added that ‘fielding would be sharper’ during the final. Match was broadcast via SKY Sports YouTube channel – please see below – with Ebony Rainford-Brent, Mark Butcher, Nasser Hussain and guest Tymal Mills. Also ESPN-cric-info (Ekanth and Ashish); BBC ’No Balls’ co-hosted by Alex Hartley and other social media. Weather was described as comfortable 15-20C.
Invincibles Innings
Skipper Suzie Bates said that South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp was playing for Dane van Niekerk. *Nasser Hussain said it was a ‘nice problem’ to have four overseas players and play three. *Bates said her team was fortunate to have overseas players ‘to rotate.’ *Although one ’single’ came from Kate Cross’ first set-of-five, 17 runs came from her second set. *After 25 balls power play, Invincibles were 41/0. *Suzie Bates partnered by Lauren Winfield-Hill put on 62 runs from 33 balls. *On 43 balls, Lauren Winfield-Hill 25(20) slog-swept aerial to ‘deep-square-leg’ and was caught by Australian Erin Burns, from Emma Lamb. *Mid-way score 78/1. Alice Capsey 18(12) played a short cameo until missing a sweep-shot and was clean-bowled by Sophie Ecclestone. *After 75 balls, Invincibles were 109/2. *Change of bowling saw Marizanne Kapp go aerial from Australia’s Erin Burns first ball, Kapp surviving a caught-and-bowled chance. Burns’ second set-of-five went for 17 runs, with Suzie Bates scoring 2 ‘fours’ and a ’six.’ *Suzie Bates 79*(47) top-scored and carried her bat. Marizanne Kapp 36*(22). *Nasser Hussain felt that no bowler apart from Sophie Ecclestone, had any ‘semblance of control,’ as Invincibles romped to a mammoth score of 163/2: three runs short of the Women’s tournament record.
Originals Innings
Skipper Kate Cross. Daisy Mullan in place of Grace Potts. *Needing to win inside 73 balls, to remain in the tournament. *Emma Lamb’s bales were sent flying losing her off-stump to Sophia Smale’s first ball, for a second-ball duck. *Sophie Smale came round-the-wicket. *Marizanne Kapp’s fourth ball was chipped by Amy Satterthwaite 2(6) to fellow New Zealander Suzie Bates at ‘mid-on.’ *After 25 balls power play, Originals were 26/2 (vs41/0.) *Two wickets fell three-balls-apart, firstly when Australia’s Erin Burns 5(5) cannoned-on to her middle-and-leg stump, from Sophie Smale. *Secondly, Sophie Ecclestone ‘sliced’ Marizanne Kapp as the bowler and (Ecclestone) was caught at ‘extra-cover’ by Alice Capsey. *Although South Africa’s Lizelle Lee remained at the crease, commentators seemed certain that Originals chances had just ‘gone up in smoke.’ *At mid-way, Originals had lost three more wickets: 62/4 (vs78/1.) *Disaster struck during Alice Capsey’s ‘set-of-ten’ when Daisy Mullan hesitated mid-way just as Capsey threw to the keeper. *Swapping hands and throwing off a glove before breaking the wicket, keeper Lauren Winfield-Hill ‘ran-out’ Daisy Mullan by a fair margin. *After 75 balls, Originals were still carried a three-wicket disadvantage on 100/5 (vs 109/2.) *Next over Lizelle Lee 64(41) was tempted by Eva Gray’s bouncer, caught at ‘deep-midwicket’ by Emily Windsor. *At that point, Invincibles place in the tournament’s final seemed for certain. *Finally, Ami Campbell 23*(23) and Ellie Threlkeld 15*(12) saw out the final set-of-ten from Mady Villiers, without any more drama.
Summary
Although Invincibles won the match, both innings went full-term. As a consequence, top-of-table Invincibles 10 points (net-run-rate 1,098); overtake second-placed Brave 10 points (net-run-rate 0.806); and go straight to the final. Eliminator match will be played between second-and-third teams: Brave and Rockets. Originals found themselves knocked-out at the group stage, failing to dislodge Rockets from third place (as they weren’t awarded any points) and finished in sixth-place with four defeats and two wins (4 points.) Commentators concluded Invincibles staged a ‘convincing win’ that leap-frogged them into first-place at the end of the group stage; and straight through to play Saturday’s final at Lord’s (against whoever wins the Eliminator.)
Result: Oval Invincibles Women 163/2 beat Manchester Originals Women 131/6 by 32 runs
Invincibles batting 163/2 (from 100 balls, 1.63 runs-per-ball); Suzie Bates 79*(47), Marizanne Kapp 36*(22), Lauren Winfield-Hill 25(20), Alice Capsey 18(12); Originals bowling: Sophie Ecclestone 1/27, Emma Lamb 1/29; Fow 1-62, 2-96; Originals batting: 131/6 (from 100 balls, 1.31 runs-per-ball; target 164 from 100 balls); Lizelle Lee 64(41), Ami Campbell 23*(23), Ellie Threlkeld 15*(12); Invincibles bowling: Marizanne Kapp 2/14, Sophie Smale 2/25, Eva Gray 1/14; Fow 1-5, 2-8, 3-33, 4-34, 5-63, 6-101.
Scorecard & Statistics at URL: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/the-hundred-women-s-competition-2022-1299144/manchester-originals-women-vs-oval-invincibles-women-24th-match-1299168/full-scorecard
Match highlights free-to-air from SKY Sports YouTube [12m38] at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBPk6l9_LA0
Match video free-to-air from SKY Sports YouTube [31m25/03h27m35s] at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1D4hyjxgfw
