Manchester Originals vs Northern Superchargers at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester on 11 August 2024
A ‘comprehensive win’ for the home side (Originals) who ‘took the game away’ from Roses Rivals (Superchargers) when Kathryn Bryce (pictured) took a ‘hat-trick’ from the last set-of-five balls. Record attendance for watching Women’s cricket at Old Trafford witnessed records tumble. Firstly, Beth Mooney posted the 2nd highest score in the Women’s Hundred’s four-year history Beth Mooney [99*not out (from 54 balls).] That beat her previous record (97*not out from 2022) by 2 runs; and thus holds record-scores for 2nd and 3rd place. Secondly, Kathryn Bryce posted the 3rd hat-trick in the Women’s Hundred. Thirdly in doing so, Kathryn Bryce ‘finished the job’ by taking 5 wickets for 13 runs:- only the second occasion that any bowler had taken five wickets in the Women’s Hundred. Receiving POTM ‘Meerkat match hero’ cap-and-medal for making top-score by a wide margin, also when keeping wicket, for taking a ‘catch and stumping’ from Kathryn Bryce’s final set-of-five balls, Beth Mooney emphasised her main aim was to get Originals into a winning position as opposed to scoring her ‘ton.’ Summing-up, commentators lauded Beth Mooney for helping her team ‘to a great win,’ having seen a ‘glimpse’ of what she can do.
Separately, it may have escaped attention that earlier doubts whether Kathryn Bryce ‘could defend 20 runs from the final set-of-five’ were without foundation. Commentators had to eat their words less than ten minutes later, when Kathryn Bryce took a hat-trick (dismissing batters Alice Davidson-Richards, Kate Cross and Georgia Wareham): with four balls; conceding just two runs for a ‘tight finish’ to ’finish the job:’ Despite their comprehensive win, Originals are unable to qualify beyond the group stage; whereas Superchargers have a battle on their hands to stay in the competition. Introduced for SKY Sports by Melanie ‘Mel’ Jones (broadcaster & former Australian international) – gaffed once as ‘Nat’(Germanos who was elsewhere); with Michael ‘Mike’ Atherton OBE (broadcaster, sports journalist & former England international), Katherine Sciver-Brunt OBE (former England international.) Also with Nick ‘Knighty’ Knight (broadcaster & former England international) and Simon Doull (NZ broadcaster & former NZ international.) Weather was hot and sunny 22-25C.
*Originals’ innings: *skipper Sophie Ecclestone with international players Beth Mooney & Kim Garth (Australia); & Laura Wolvaardt (Rep South Africa); *[Bess Heath keeping wicket for Superchargers]; *After 25 balls power-play 30/0; *Going down-wicket to the spinner, Laura Wolvaardt was stumped by Bess Heath, from Linsey Smith; *Midway after 50 balls, 62/1; *After 90 balls, Kathryn Bryce retired out ‘gracefully,’ replaced for the last ten balls by skipper Sophie Ecclestone who was run-out from the final ball; *Graceful retirement said to have happened only once before; *With 3 ’sixes’ and 14 ‘fours’ commentators cursed Beth Mooney’s ‘magnificent’ innings for ‘eyeing 100’ and falling short by one run, despite commentators desire for ‘a fair wind’; *Originals’ batting: Beth Mooney 99*not out (54), Laura Wolvaardt 26(20), Kathryn Bryce 13(21); *Superchargers’ bowling: Linsey Smith 1/32;
*Superchargers’ innings: skipper Hollie Armitage, with international players: Phoebe Litchfield, Annabel Sutherland & Georgia Wareham (all Australia); *[Beth Mooney keeping wicket for Originals, in place of Ellie Threlkeld]; *Davina Perrin was caught by at ‘mid-on’ by Kathryn Bryce from Kim Garth; *After 25 balls power-play 28/1 (vs 30/0); *With ‘pressure building’, Hollie Armitage was caught ‘behind square’ by Laura Wolvaardt from Kathryn Bryce; *Level-pegging at midway after 50 balls, 61/2 (vs62/1); *Phoebe Litchfield was bowled by Kim Garth, deceived by slower ball delivery via ‘back-of-hand’; *Bess Heath was caught by Danielle ‘Dani’ Gregory from Sophie Ecclestone; *Three wickets during Kathryn Bryce’s death set-of-five *Alice Davidson-Richards was caught by keeper Beth Mooney, from Kathryn Bryce; *Next ball, Kate Cross was was stumped by keeper Beth Mooney, from Kathryn Bryce; *Hat-trick (as mentioned above) when Georgia Wareham was caught at ‘deep-mid-wicket’ by Fi Morris, from Kathryn Bryce; *Superchargers’ batting: Phoebe Litchfield 45(29), Annabel Sutherland 26(21), Georgia Wareham 25(18); *Originals’ bowling: Kathryn Bryce 5/13, Kim Garth 2/17, Sophie Ecclestone 1/32
Match result: Manchester Originals 151/3 (1.5 runs-per-ball, from 100/100) beat Northern Superchargers 134/8 (1.3 runs-per-ball, target 152 from 100/100) by 17 runs
*Full match with edited highlights courtesy of SKY Sports Cricket free-to-air via YouTube [03h06m05s] @url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nvntRoMP9c
*Results with link to match centre for edited highlights courtesy of The Hundred (Women) @url https://www.thehundred.com/results?year=2024
*Fixtures @url https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/3801564/the-hundred-2024-fixtures
