Jemimah Rodrigues made it back-to-back half centuries in the Hundred as she hit 60 off 41 deliveries for the Northern Superchargers against the Trent Rockets on Monday afternoon. Despite some early luck in this innings with an unreviewed LBW shout that would have seen her out first ball, the 20-year-old has been the stand-out batter in the women’s competition, and made the key contribution to its highest total so far, pushing the Superchargers to a sizeable 149-7.
Jemimah Rodrigues is in dazzling form!
Make that consecutive 50s for the Northern Superchargers star! 🌟#TheHundred pic.twitter.com/mjwYgUsED0
— The Hundred (@thehundred) July 26, 2021
Rodrigues is one of five Indian women competing in the tournament, and has added to the brilliance shown by the nation’s T20I skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. Foremost in the reactions to these performances will, though, be further light being shone on the BCCI’s long-standing reluctance to allow their cricketers to take part in franchise tournaments outside of India.
The board does not want its global stars to promote and advance any leagues other than its own, and with the exempted Rodrigues and Kaur showing their class in England it is easy to understand the stance, given the quality and fanbase that these players tend to bring with them. Despite COVID admittedly complicating the involvement of multiple overseas talents, the men’s Hundred in particular will be desperate to convince the BCCI of the viability of its players participating in the future.
As Indian cricket continues to expand its talent pool and with the celebrities of Messrs Kohli, Sharma and Pant ever on the rise, a new tournament like the Hundred would almost instantly gain the mass following and worldwide relevance it so desires to flourish with their inclusion. For now, to have Rodrigues putting on a such a show for the young girls and boys watching on is a hugely positive step in the right direction.
