2024 Women’s Hundred: London Spirit Clinch Maiden Title in a Season of Fierce Rivalry
The 2024 Women’s Hundred season was marked by fierce competition among the eight city-based teams, culminating in London Spirit claiming their maiden title with a thrilling victory over Welsh Fire in the final at Lord’s. The tournament featured high-intensity performances and several standout individual contributions that shaped the season’s narrative.
London Spirit’s Balanced Campaign and Historic Win
London Spirit showcased remarkable composure and team balance throughout the season. The campaign was highlighted by Deepti Sharma’s all-round brilliance—scoring 212 runs and taking eight wickets—which proved pivotal, especially her final-ball six that sealed the championship in the climactic final.
Welsh Fire dominated the group stages with consistent performances, finishing at the top of the table alongside Oval Invincibles, but narrowly missed out in the final chase.
Batting Standouts: Sciver-Brunt, Mooney, and Matthews
The Batter of the Tournament was undoubtedly Natalie Sciver-Brunt of Trent Rockets, who amassed over 300 runs—becoming the first woman to cross 300 runs in a single Women’s Hundred season. She also chipped in with six wickets, reinforcing her all-round credentials.
Other key batting highlights included:
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Beth Mooney (Manchester Originals), who played a thrilling unbeaten 99-run innings.
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Hayley Matthews (Welsh Fire), who anchored a high-pressure chase with an unbeaten 78.
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Heather Knight (London Spirit) and Ellyse Perry (Birmingham Phoenix), who added impactful contributions with the bat.
Bowling Stars : Linsey Smith and Annabel Sutherland
On the bowling front, Linsey Smith of Northern Superchargers led the charts with 15 wickets, consistently delivering economical and penetrative spells. She was ably supported by teammate Annabel Sutherland, who not only maintained one of the best bowling economies but also contributed key runs.
Other notable performances included:
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Sophie Ecclestone (Manchester Originals), who remained reliable under pressure.
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Shabnim Ismail (Welsh Fire), who impressed with her death-over mastery.
Team Performances and Emerging Talents
Teams like Northern Superchargers and Trent Rockets impressed with all-round consistency, maintaining competitive intensity throughout the season.
On the other hand, Southern Brave faced challenges, with key players such as Smriti Mandhana underperforming relative to expectations. Meanwhile, Georgia Redmayne (Welsh Fire) emerged as a promising top-order batter, delivering consistent scores and making a strong case for future opportunities.
Nail-Biting Finishes and London Spirit’s Knockout Dominance
The season saw several thrilling finishes, including dramatic eliminators and tense chases. London Spirit’s run in the knockout stages included a dominant 8-wicket win over Oval Invincibles in the Eliminator before their final triumph.
These moments, combined with stellar individual displays, further elevated the excitement around women’s domestic cricket in England.
The Growing Stature of the Women’s Hundred
Overall, the 2024 Women’s Hundred season delivered on every front—competition, drama, star power, and emerging talent. London Spirit’s strategic depth, bolstered by match-winning performances in clutch moments, defined their path to victory.
As the tournament grows in stature, the women’s game continues to earn well-deserved attention and fanfare, setting the stage for even bigger seasons ahead.
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