Manchester Originals vs Trent Rockets at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester on 29 July 2024
Commentators were sympathetic for Rockets’ skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt, who top-scored with ‘fifty,’ set a new record 4th wicket partnership with Australia’s Ash Gardner, but still fell short of snatching victory by one solitary run. By contrast, Originals chalked-up their first win before their home crowd on a fine summer’s day on a ‘belter-of-a-pitch;’ with a quick outfield. Summarising the match, once Originals posted a ‘competitive score,’ it was up to the bowlers to ‘contain’ Nat Sciver-Brunt batting with Ash Gardner. Lauren Filer received POTM ‘Meerkat match hero’ cap-and-medal for taking most wickets for the winning team. Kathryn Bryce’s ‘held her nerve.’ That resulted in the first ‘one run’ victory in the Women’s Hundred (to date.) Before the match, Alana King (Rockets) gave a demonstration of Warne’s ‘ball-of-the-century’ technique (1993) that she used during the previous match. Both Originals and Rockets have won and lost their first two matches. After the match, Lauren Filer told commentators that it was ‘good to get over the line’ – please see below. Introduced for SKY Sports Cricket by Introduced by Nick ‘Knighty’ Knight (broadcaster & former England international) with Ebony Rainford Brent MBE (broadcaster & former England international – director Women’s cricket at Surrey), Lydia Greenway (broadcaster & former England international), Alex Tudor (former England international), & Dominic Cork (Head Coach at Derbyshire Falcons & former England international.) Weather hot and sunny 20C
*Originals’ innings: *skipper Sophie Ecclestone with international players Beth Mooney & Kim Garth (Australia); & Laura Wolvaardt (mis-spelt elsewhere); [Nat Wraith keeping wicket for Rockets]; *Laura Wolvaardt was ‘run-out’ by Nat Sciver-Brunt’s direct hit to the non-striker’s end, from Ash Gardner’s third ball; *After 25 balls power-play 34/1; *Emma Lamb was bowled by Heather Graham, who ‘targeted the stumps;’ *Midway after 50 balls, 58/2; *Beth Mooney was stumped by Nat Wraith from by Kirstie Gordon, who anticipated the opportunity bowling a faster ball; *Strategic-time-out was taken on 84/3, with 30 balls remaining; *Kathryn Bryce was caught at ‘long-on’ by Nat Sciver-Brunt, from Ash Gardner; *Striking two ‘sixes,’ Sophie Ecclestone played a five-ball cameo until bowled by Kirstie Gordon; *Finally, Eve Jones was ‘run-out’ by Heather Graham, who replaced the uprooted stump to complete the ‘run-out’ with both batters standing at the striker’s end; *Originals’ batting: *Eve Jones 34(25), Kathryn Bryce 32(37), Beth Mooney 24(22), Sophie Ecclestone 13(5), Laura Wolvaardt 12(9); *Rockets bowling: Heather Graham 2/31, Ash Gardner 1/17, Kirstie Gordon 1/33;
*Rockets’ innings: skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt, with international players: Ashleigh ‘Ash’ Gardner, Heather Graham & Alana King (all Australia); *[Ellie Threlkeld keeping wicket for Originals]; *Bryony Smith was caught by keeper Ellie Threlkeld’s diving catch, from Lauren Filer;
*After 25 balls power-play 37/2 vs 34/1; *Coming-down-wicket, and deceived by a change-of-pace, Grace Scrivens was stumped by keeper Ellie Threlkeld from Sophie Ecclestone; *Nat Wraith was caught in-the-deep by Alice Monaghan from Lauren Filer; *At mid-way (50 balls) 57/3 (vs 58/2);
*When strategic-time-out was called on 101/3, Rockets needed 37 runs from 20 balls remaining; Ash Gardner and Nat Sciver-Brunt chalked-up a record 4th wicket partnership for the Women’s Hundred; *Ash Gardner was caught by Beth Mooney from Kathryn Bryce’s slower ball; *With pressure building for the winning shot, Kathryn Bryce held her nerve as only ‘two’ was scored whereas ‘four’ was needed from the final ball. *Rockets’ batting: Nat Sciver-Brunt 56*not out(46), Ash Gardner 36(23), Nat Wraith 17(11); *Originals bowling: Lauren Filer 2/26, Sophie Ecclestone 1/19, Kathryn Bryce 1/24;
*Match result: Manchester Originals 137/6 (1.3 runs-per-ball from 100/100 balls) beat Trent Rockets 136/4 (1.3 r-p-b from 100/100 balls) by 1 run
*Edited highlights courtesy of SKY Sports Cricket free-to-air via YouTube [01m36s] @url https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/cricket/competitions/the-hundred/13187046/the-hundred-manchester-originals-win-by-one-run-in-thriller-against-trent-rockets
*Filer: It was so good to get over the line’ [0m42s] @url https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/13187029/lauren-filer-it-was-so-good-for-manchester-originals-to-get-over-the-line-against-trent-rockets
*Fixtures @url https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/3801564/the-hundred-2024-fixtures
