Both Southern Brave and Oval Invincibles posted formidable wins in the opener of The Hundred. Their amazing play on the court pushed them to the top of the conference standings. On a day punctuated by incredible bowling and game-changing batting, both teams showcased their skills in the sweet spot on the field.
Tilly Corteen-Coleman was next-level for Southern Brave. She absolutely stole the show, picking up 4/13 against Trent Rockets. This amazing bowling display was crucial in Trent Rockets only making 106 runs, a total way below par. Kirstie Gordon played a key knock, scoring 32 from 27 deliveries. Sadly, her exploits were not enough to prevent setting a stiff target for Southern Brave to chase down.
Southern Brave made quick work of that target, chasing it down with ease to open the tournament. Marizanne Kapp anchored the innings with an unbeaten 47 runs off 32 balls, while Maia Bouchier supported with 42 runs from 30 deliveries. Sophie Devine contributed with bat, scoring a well-deserved 41 not out. The Brave batters joined forces to see their side home at 150-6 in only 100 balls. That outstanding display led to a comprehensive six-wicket win and has placed them at the top of The Hundred table.
In the second match of the day, Oval Invincibles faced Welsh Fire. The flamboyant Alice Capsey was the day’s show stealer, scoring a rapid 55 runs. Her knock of 77 from 55 balls was key to steering the Invincibles to 150-6. In reply, Welsh Fire never found their feet and were restricted to just 111 runs from their 96 balls.
Sophia Dunkley was in sparkling form for Welsh Fire, hitting 56 from only 41 deliveries. She felt like there wasn’t a lot of support from her teammates and that really hurt her. The Invincibles’ bowling attack was disciplined to the core. Hayley Matthews spearheaded the attack, claiming 2 for just 18 runs and stopping Welsh Fire from building any sort of momentum within the match.
Both games exhibited the competitive intensity of The Hundred. Homegrown players such as Tilly Corteen-Coleman and Alice Capsey put in performances beholding of some of the greats and excited a nation. Corteen-Coleman’s exceptional bowling figures not only contributed to Southern Brave’s victory but solidified her reputation as a valuable asset in the tournament. She has already played 45 T20 internationals for England. Now, she’s making her domestic batting prowess impossible to ignore.
Even with those standard-setting performances, there were individual implements of destruction provided by other competitors on the green. Southern Brave’s Lauren Bell took 3 wickets for 16 runs, while Alana King showcased her skills by stumping Maia Bouchier during the match against Trent Rockets. Sharp fielding and tight bowling by Ash Gardner and Heather Graham made Trent Rockets very difficult to score against.
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