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The ongoing Hundred Women 2023 witnessed yet another double header on Sunday where Northern Superchargers took on Manchester Originals in the first game while Oval Invincibles locked horns with Birmingham Phoenix in the second fixture of the day.
Northern Superchargers secured a thrilling win by 4 runs (DLS) over Manchester Originals, adding valuable points to their tally. Batting first, the Superchargers posted a competitive total of 133/5 on the board in their allotted 100 balls.
Marie Kelly got the innings off to a brisk start with 22 runs off 11 balls, including 4 fours. Phoebe Litchfield contributed a valuable 39 runs off 29 balls, featuring 6 boundaries, while Bess Heath’s quick cameo of 20 off 11 deliveries, including 2 fours and a six, added impetus to the innings. Alice Davidson-Richards played a crucial role in the late surge, scoring 11 runs off just 4 balls.
In response, Manchester Originals faced a revised target of 113 runs from 80 balls due to rain. Emma Lamb anchored the chase with a well-played 49 runs off 36 balls, including 6 fours and a six. Deandra Dottin contributed a brisk 27 runs off 21 balls with 4 fours and a six, but the rest of the batting struggled to get going.
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Davidson-Richards turned out to be the game-changer for Northern Superchargers, claiming 3 crucial wickets for 23 runs. Despite some resistance from Manchester Originals, they managed to score only 108/7, falling short by 4 runs as per the DLS calculation.
Birmingham Phoenix remain winless with 4th loss in the tournament
In the second meeting, Oval Invincibles defeated Birmingham Phoenix to claim their second win in the tournament. Notably, this was Birmingham’s 4th loss in the competition and they haven’t yet opened their account.
Oval Invincibles managed to post a competitive total of 142/5 after being asked to bat first. Lauren Winfield anchored the innings with a well-compiled 41 runs off 33 balls, but it was Marizanne Kapp‘s unbeaten knock of 64 runs from 40 balls, including 6 boundaries and 2 towering sixes, that set the tone for the Invincibles.
Paige Scholfield contributed a quick 17 runs off 9 balls to bolster the total. Birmingham Phoenix’s bowlers put up a collective effort, with Hannah Baker being the standout performer, claiming 2 wickets for 20 runs.
Chasing 143 for victory, Birmingham Phoenix fought hard but fell short by 10 runs, ending their innings at 132/6. Sophie Devine smashed a crucial 53 runs off 34 balls, featuring 7 fours and 2 sixes. Tess Flintoff contributed a steady 27 runs, but the Oval Invincibles’ bowlers managed to restrict the flow of runs and pick up wickets at crucial junctures.
Scholfield’s took 3 wickets for 30 runs, while Ryana Macdonald-Gay contributed with 2 wickets for 28 runs. Kapp’s brilliant batting performance earned her the well-deserved Player of the Match award.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.