Beth Mooney struck her fourth fifty in The Hundred as Manchester Originals secured their first win of the campaign and condemned Oval Invincibles to back-to-back defeats with a two-run victory in an Oval thriller.
Originals had lost their opening match at home to Southern Brave on Wednesday after posting just 95-8, with skipper Mooney – the top-ranked batter in women’s T20 international cricket – out for one.
But the Australian was impressive at The Kia Oval on Saturday, hitting 70 from 45 balls in her side’s total of 139-6 as South Africa seamer Marizanne Kapp claimed 2-22 from 20 balls for Invincibles.
Kapp (19no off 15) then had the chance to win the game for Invincibles from the last ball of the chase with four needed but could only clip a full toss from Deandra Dottin to midwicket for one as the hosts ended on 137-3.
Invincibles – beaten by defending champions London Spirit in the tournament curtain-raiser on Tuesday – saw Mooney’s fellow Australian Meg Lanning (56 off 42) compile back-to-back fifties after her knock of 85 last time out.
When Lanning was dropped by Fi Morris at deep backward square and the ball trickled away for four, Invincibles’ ask was cut to 13 from six balls, only for Lanning to hole out at long-off next delivery.
Paige Scholfield (9no off 4) then smoked Dottin for six to reduce the requirement to five from two but the bowler held her nerve.
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Manchester Originals’ Kathryn Bryce received this cold sending off from Kapp after being bowled in Saturday’s match
How do matches work?
- One hundred balls a side, the team with the most runs wins. It is as simple as that.
- Five bowlers can bowl up to 20 balls in an innings, including five or 10 in a row.
- The traditional six-ball overs seen in other forms of cricket are not used in The Hundred, with 10 balls bowled before a change of ends.
- The powerplay is for the first 25 balls of an innings, with only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle.
- A 25-ball-a-side game is the minimum length that can be played in the event of wet weather.
What’s next?
Originals will welcome London Spirit to Emirates Old Trafford on Monday (2.30pm start), with Invincibles heading to Edgbaston to play Birmingham Phoenix on Tuesday (2.30pm) start.
Sunday is a four-match day in The Hundred, with Southern Brave taking on Phoenix in Southampton (women’s match at 11am, men’s at 2.30pm), plus Trent Rockets vs Northern Superchargers in Nottingham (women’s match at 2.30pm, men’s at 6pm).
Watch every match across the women’s and men’s competitions live on Sky Sports from August 5-31.
