The 5th edition of the Women’s Hundred 2025 kicked off with a bang as the defending champions, London Spirit, under their new leader in Charlie Dean, for the season, survived the late flourish from Meg Lanning, who crossed over from the Spirits to the Invincibles this season, to come on top in the London Derby.
In the 2nd game of the season, the Southern Brave, led by skipper Georgia Adams, who finished at the bottom of the table in the previous edition, were up against the Manchester Originals, led by the new skipper Beth Mooney, taking over the reins from Sophie Ecclestone.
Lauren Bell, Spinners restrict clueless Manchester Originals to 95/8
The Originals lost both their openers, including the wicket of their skipper Beth Mooney, after skipper Georgia Adams won the toss and opted to field first. It looked like a tricky surface, as the Originals’ batters struggled to get used to the pace of the surface. Manchester Originals eventually managed to post a total closer to the 100-run mark in their quota of 100 deliveries.
The 29-run partnership for the 9th wicket between Danielle Gregory and Seren Smale provided some sort of respectability to the total. Seren Smale (40* off 34 balls) was the lone warrior with the bat for Manchester. Amelia Kerr (14 off 14 balls) played her part with the bat for her side. Lauren Bell (20-11-28-3), Tilly Corteen-Coleman (20-9-12-1) and Mady Villiers (20-7-19-2) were the stand-out performers with the ball for Southern Brave.
Laura Wolvaardt, Danielle Wyatt-Hodge guide Southern Brave over the line
Chasing a target of 96, Southern Brave lost the wicket of their opening batter, Maia Bouchier, early on in the run chase. Deandra Dottin provided the first breakthrough for Manchester Originals. Laura Wolvaardt joined Danielle Wyatt-Hodge at the crease, and the duo led some sort of a recovery with a much-needed 48-run partnership for the 2nd wicket.
Sophie Ecclestone cleaned up Danielle Wyatt-Hodge (32 off 27 balls) to provide the 2nd breakthrough for her side. The spinners dragged the game deep, but the new recruit for the Southern Brave, Laura Wolvaardt, who crossed over from the Originals, kept her calm and guided her side over the line in the run-chase with an unbeaten 42* (37 balls) as Southern Brave sealed the game with 6 wickets in hand and 11 balls to spare.
Amelia Kerr (20-9-20-1), Sophie Ecclestone (20-9-24-1), and Deandra Dottin (19-6-22-1) were impressive with the ball for Manchester Originals. Lauren Bell was awarded the Player of the Match for her sensational spell.
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