The 4th edition of The Hundred (Women’s) has been marked by intense competition, showcasing the growing quality and competitiveness of the league. With the Eliminator and Final still ahead, the tournament has already delivered several memorable performances. Here’s a look at the journeys of the Welsh Fire, who have secured their spot in the Final, and the Oval Invincibles and London Spirit, who will clash in the much-anticipated Eliminator.
Welsh Fire:
After finishing at the bottom in their first two seasons and showing improvement with a third-place finish last summer, Welsh Fire finally fired this year, topping the table and securing a direct spot in the Final. They kicked off the season with a strong win and, despite a setback against the Invincibles, quickly bounced back with a hat-trick of victories.
A rain-affected match and a narrow loss to Birmingham Phoenix added some drama to their campaign, but they closed out the league stage with a dominant win, solidifying their position as the team to beat. Key contributors to their success include the dynamic all-rounder duo of Hayley Matthews and Jess Jonassen, along with the seasoned opening pair of Tammy Beaumont and Sophia Dunkley.
Oval Invincibles:
The two-time champions, Oval Invincibles, were eager to make up for a disappointing 5th place finish last season. This year, they started strong with back-to-back wins, signaling their intent to reclaim their dominance. However, their journey wasn’t without challenges—they suffered a heavy 82-run defeat to Northern Superchargers and managed a tense tie against London Spirit.
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Despite these setbacks, they rallied with a crucial win, though they stumbled again before closing their league campaign with two convincing victories. This strong finish secured them a spot in the top 3 and a place in the knockouts. Their success has been driven by Marizanne Kapp’s all-around brilliance, Paige Scholfield’s key contributions, and a consistently effective bowling unit.
London Spirit:
After a promising 4th place finish in the inaugural season, London Spirit struggled in the following years, finishing 7th and 6th. However, this season has seen a remarkable turnaround as they secured 3rd place and their first-ever playoff appearance. Although their journey was marked by inconsistency, they managed to secure crucial wins when it mattered most.
They began their campaign with consecutive victories, and despite a setback against Welsh Fire, they managed to draw the game against the Invincibles. In their final four games, they experienced a mixed bag of results, with two wins and two losses, ultimately sneaking into the playoffs. Much of their success can be credited to Deepti Sharma’s all-round performances and Heather Knight’s fine form, with Meg Lanning yet to fully hit her stride, and nothing like if she leads in the must-wins.