Laura Wolvaardt’s continued fine form saw her score 50 off 35 balls as Superchargers posted 145 for six; Brave could muster only 125 for nine in reply and must wait to see if Oval Invincibles leapfrog them; Size of victory for Superchargers not enough to secure place in knockout stages
Wednesday 31 August 2022 17:51, UK
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Southern Brave suffered their first defeat of the women’s Hundred, losing by 20 runs to Northern Superchargers to leave their hopes of direct qualification to Saturday’s final in jeopardy.
Laura Wolvaardt’s continued run of fine form saw her score 50 off 35 balls as the Superchargers’ posted 145-6.
Brave could muster only 125-9 in reply and they face an anxious few hours to see whether Oval Invincibles leapfrog them after their trip to Manchester Originals.
The size of victory for the Superchargers was not enough to secure their place in the knockout stages.
Brave lost openers Danni Wyatt and Smriti Mandhana without scoring inside the first 10 balls of their reply, before Sophia Dunkley’s 38 from 30 balls ended the Superchargers’ slim hopes of qualification despite victory.
Katie Levick and Alice Davidson-Richards took two wickets apiece.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
After being put into bat in front of a home crowd, Superchargers were faced with the early loss of Alyssa Healy, who rocketed a ball otherwise destined for the boundary straight into the hands of Dunkley at cover for 17.
The Hundred – latest standings
The Hundred – upcoming fixtures
The Hundred – results so far
The Hundred – latest video
Wolvaardt set the tone for her side with the bat, forming a solid partnership with Heather Graham worth 45 off 27 balls. By the time Graham fell for a well-played 26 off 19, Superchargers were 98-4 with 26 balls still to come.
Tickets for The Hundred are selling fast! If you want to be part of the action, go to thehundred.com/tickets
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Wolvaardt’s classy innings saw her pass the record for the most runs scored by any woman in the Hundred’s short history, having racked up 286 across six innings before she was caught superbly on the boundary by Wyatt.
A cameo from Jenny Gunn with 15 from seven balls after Wolvaardt’s dismissal gave the Superchargers a whiff of qualification, setting the Brave a total of 145 to beat.
The home side’s hopes were boosted by a perfect start in the field, Wyatt falling off the first ball of the innings, caught at short leg, and her opening partner, the dangerous Mandhana, falling just eight balls later.
As the Brave’s batting line-up wobbled under pressure, Dunkley stood firm with wickets falling around her. Tahlia McGrath was bowled by the impressive Graham and Maia Bouchier was out caught to Davidson-Richards.
By the time Georgia Adams nicked off a tempting delivery from Levick, Dunkley was the only thing standing between Superchargers and an unlikely qualification.
Her steady innings of 38 off 30 came to an end caught on the boundary by who else but Graham, effectively taking the Brave’s hopes of winning the game with her as she walked back to the dugout.
A good partnership between Amanda-Jade Wellington and Freya Kemp worth 41 off just 18 ended the Superchargers’ hopes of qualification, taking the visitors past the magic number 99, which had they failed to score would have potentially seen the Superchargers through.
The bowlers could not see Brave home with the bat however and they finished on 125-9.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Laura Wolvaardt, Northern Superchargers said: “It was lots of fun. I think we needed to restrict them to a bit less to qualify for the playoffs so it’s bittersweet I guess, but happy to have beaten a really good side today.
“I thought the girls played exceptionally well, our fielding was excellent. Heather Graham took a screamer on the boundary and she was really good in the field today.
“It wasn’t the ideal start but we just looked to take it as deep as we could. We know it’s a really nice ground, a really fast outfield, so it was just about taking it as deep as we could.
“The fight from the girls today was incredible. We were really giving it our all to restrict them to what we needed, it just didn’t quite work out but almost went to plan.”
At Old Trafford, the action gets underway with the women from 2.30pm on Sky Sports Mix, as the Manchester Originals aim to fight their way into the play-off places, facing the Oval Invincibles who are already through with four wins and just one defeat so far.
On the men’s side, it’s a superb winner-takes-all clash as the Originals and Invincibles both know a win will take them through to The Eliminator game. Coverage begins from 6pm on Sky Sports Cricket, Mix & Main Event.
Watch every match from The Hundred this summer live on Sky Sports.
Tickets for The Hundred are selling fast! If you want to be part of the action, go to thehundred.com/tickets
© 2022 Sky UK
