The reigning champions Sunrisers Leeds completed a thumping 7 wicket victory over MI London to kick off the 6th season of The Women’s Hundred
Since the Northern Superchargers, now SunRisers Leeds lifted the Women’s title in August last year, the Hundred has seen significant financial investment, with all eight teams either partially or full taken over by new owners. Of those 8, four of those have predictably gone to ownership groups that are involved in Indian Premier League (IPL) Franchises.
Having been put into bat, MI London opened with the experience pair of Hayley Mathews and Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who were just as explosive as the volley of fireworks that preceded their arrival to the crease.
In amongst a flurry of boundaries, Mathews signalled her intent depositing the former England International Kate Cross over her head for 6, MI Londons 50 came up without loss in 34 balls.
Danni Gibson bought herself on to try and make the breakthrough but was promptly dispatched over cover for four by Matthews who then treated right arm off spinner Deepti Sharma with similar disdain, launching her over midwicket before being dismissed for 33 with a good caught and bowled the next delivery.
Dani Gibson turned to severn bowlers in the first 50 balls, the new Sunrisers skipper side were behind. Eventually they built some momentum, tying Meilie Kerr down somewhat, through a combination of Hannah Baker and Deepti Sharma before the pairs good work was rewarded.
Baker dismissed Kerr for 13 off 15 balls before Sharma got her second with the important wicket of Dani Wyatt-Hodge. Hodge, dismissed for a well-made 29, an exceptional catch from Kate Cross, running in and diving forward from the long on boundary.
Armitage and Carey face their old side.
Last season, Lisa Keightley coached Hollie Armitage’s Northern Superchargers to their first Hundred title with victory at Lord’s, were Nicola Carey scored the winning runs. Today, all three returned to face their former side, wearing the blue of MI London.
At 77-3, the pair joined each other at the crease, but the partnership didn’t last long with Carey bowled for 5 by Danni Gibson, Carey, losing her shape attempting a slog over midwicket.
From 72 for 1 after 55 balls, the home side had slipped to 91-5 with just 23 balls to go and no set batter at the crease, Dani Gibson putting the pressure on, opting for just three fielders outside the ring at times. Needing a finish a kin to their start, the home side didn’t get what they wanted, struggling to lay bat on ball or pierce the infield, runs were difficult to come by. Their struggles were compounded when Alice Monagan was out stumped. Unsure where the ball had ended up, she wandered out of her crease, only for wicket-keeper Lauren Winfield-Hill to whip the bails off.
MI London, ultimately fell well short of what the opening stand warranted and 20 runs shy of the average score the competitions history, setting Sunrisers Leeds 108 to win.
It is unusual for a title-winning side to see so much change however; some key figures remain in the Sunrisers Leeds side. Australian duo Annabel Sutherland and Phoebe Litchfield – last year’s Player of the Tournament – return off the back of a World Cup win. Jess Jonassen joins from the Welsh Fire meaning the batting line up had a strong Australian presence.
The inform Litchfield joined Jonassen at the crease after Bryony Smith was dismssed early, slapping a half tracker from Alexa Stonehouse to Melie Kerr who pouched it safely at short midwicket.
Needing just over a run a ball for a successful chase, the main objective for the visiting side was surely to keep wickets in hand. Perhaps failing to realise that, the Australian pair went for quick single when Litchfield dropped the ball into the leg side. Bowler, Chinelle Henry continued her follow through, underarm flicked the ball to Kira Chathli who did the rest – the dangerous Jonassen ran out for 14.
However, the advantage of chasing such a low total off was that Litchfield and Sutherland were able to whittle it down at a fair lick. A ramp from Sutherland and a ferocious pull shot from Litchfield which cleared the square leg boundary with ease, meant that the Sunrisers batters, who were signed for a combined total of £250,000 at the auction needed just 49 to win off 65 deliveries for an impressive victory.
Looking like the pair may lead their side home with 27 runs to win and the game for all intents and purposes won, Pheobe Litchfield, deserving of a 50 fell short, trying to give herself room and go back over Kirstie Gordons head, she was bowled, for 43.
At 81-3, captain Dani Gibson joined Sutherland in the middle, the latter had been good foil to Litchfield, plodding along to a run a ball for her 15, rotating the strike with ease now took up a different role. The right hander danced down the track to a delivery from the cap wearing Hayley Matthews and cleared the long on boundary. The chase was completed when captain Dani Gibson, who had evidently taken notes from Wimbledon, hit a forehand over cover for four.
The perfect start from the reigning champions and new coach Adrian Birrell but much to ponder for Lisa Kieghtley and Hollie Armitage who will be hoping their successful formula from last year will click soon into gear at The Oval.
Very well written