Southern Brave continued their push for a home playoff place as they defeated Manchester Originals by six wickets in The Hundred. The game exploded at the Rose Bowl. The Brave went after a conservative target of just 96 runs and crossed the finish line with 11 balls to spare! This crucial victory represents a huge reversal of fortune for Southern Brave, who endured a torrid first season in 2022.
Laura Wolvaardt played a pivotal role in the match, scoring an impressive 42 not out. She anchored the innings, leading her team to their target and displaying her batting skills in crucial moments. Her performance on the world stage was key. Southern Brave were looking to continue the momentum after having finished bottom of the table in the previous season.
The Manchester Originals had raised quite a scoreboard with 95 runs. Not only did they win, but they did so with eight wickets to spare in their 100 balls. Seren Smale was the bright spark for the Originals, top-scoring for them with 40 not out on a tricky wicket. Unfortunately for her, the execution of the batting lineup fell flat against the Southern Brave’s strong bowling lineup.
England seamer Lauren Bell was the most dangerous player on the pitch, taking three wickets for 28 runs in a brilliant performance for Southern Brave. Her exceptional performance not only helped restrict the Originals’ score but solidified her position as one of the most successful bowlers in The Hundred’s history. Having taken 44 wickets, she has now moved to second on the all-time list, behind only Amanda-Jade Wellington.
There was pressure throughout the bowling unit, with Mady Villiers heavily influencing the match by finishing with 2-19. Dani Gregory was the standout bowler for the Originals, picking up 1/11 in 2 overs. All that effort just wasn’t enough to get them to a winningly-competitive total.
Southern Brave will be enjoying this one to the full. They’re looking to make up for last year’s one-for-eight showing. From bottom of the table last year, their success in The Hundred this season is a stunning turnaround. They do an excellent job tracking down targets and tend to excel with bat and ball alike.
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