The Hundred tournament got off to nothing but a perfect start. A start which was so perfect that the Manchester Originals’ captain Kate Cross admitted that “I don’t think I can come off a cricket pitch and be more pleased with a loss”.
The first-ever match of The Hundred, which was a women’s match between Manchester Originals and Oval Invincibles, was viewed by a TV audience of 1.6m, making this match the most viewed women’s cricket match in the history of the BBC TV network. The match was also streamed live over 180,000 times via BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport online.
🚨RECORD🚨
The opening game of The Hundred has attracted a peak TV audience of 1.6m, making it the most-watched women’s cricket match ever on the BBC.
Congratulations @thehundred 😍🙌
Source: Cricket World #TheHundred pic.twitter.com/sxOMIw0ZXx
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) July 22, 2021
Manchester Originals lost their first match to the Oval Invincibles after South African all-rounder Dane van Niekerk hit a match-winning half-century that enabled the Invincibles to chase down the target of 136 with two balls in hand.
First 50 of ‘The Hundred’ competition (Both Men and Women) was scored by The Oval Invincibles Captain- Dane Van Niekerk 🏏
She led her side through to the first victory of the competition against the Manchester Originals.#TheHundred #TheHundred2021 pic.twitter.com/6oRVjCITtI— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) July 23, 2021
Batting first, Manchester Originals put up a good score of 135 for 6, courtesy of the South African opener Lizelle Lee’s 42 and it looked like the Originals will clinch the first victory of The Hundred. But the tables soon turned in the Invincibles’ favor when van Niekerk made a solid partnership of 73 with her South African partner Marizanne Kapp and hit the winning runs at the Kia Oval.
Along with the TV spectators around the world, there were more than 7000 fans who came to the stadiums to cheer their favorite team and support their favorite player at the Kia Oval.
Around 7395 spectators were present at the stadium to enjoy the format of cricket and support their favorite teams.