The Hundred is a format in which it is very difficult for the bowlers to have a good record in terms of the number of wickets in an innings, economy rate, and also average. The dynamics of the game are such that the batters are forced to go out after bowlers right from the 1st ball.
Having just 100 balls means that there is not enough time for batters to settle in, and directly start batting aggressively. The consequences of this are majorly faced by the bowlers, as their stats and records are heavily inflated against them. Their economy rate goes for a toss! Despite all these, some world-class bowlers still manage to pick wickets in bulk in this format, they still manage to have a worldie of a game in terms of wickets.
In this article, we will be having a look at some of the best figures by bowlers in this devastating format since its inception.
1) Fi Morris
England’s Fi Morris had a worldie of a game when she faced Birmingham Phoenix on 7th August 2023. Morris struck 5 times against the Phoenix, yes you read it right, 5 times! She conceded just 7 runs in the process, bowling just 16 balls. Morris scalped the wickets of dangerous Amy Jones, Abigail Freeborn, Issy Wong, Charis Pavely, and Hannah Baker. Her exceptional bowling helped Manchester Originals clear the tail of Phoenix in a rather quick time. Thanks to Morris’ 5 wicket haul, Phoenix managed to post a score of just 87 runs as all their batters were sent back to the pavilion with 4 more balls to go.
2) Marizanne Kapp
Against Southern Brave Marizanne Kapp bowled out a spell of the tournament in the Final of the tournament, she kept troubling batters with her deadly outswinger. The batters had no answer to her bowling, they were as clueless as it gets. Kapp claimed a total of 4 wickets while conceding just 9 runs from 18 balls. She bowled a total of 13 dots in the process. Kapp provided Oval Invincibles a perfect start as they got her first wicket in the first over itself. Requiring 122 to win the finals, Kapp dismissed all of the Braves’ top 3 for a duck. The victims of her bowling were Danni Wyatt, Gaby Lewis, Sophia Dunkley, and Lauren Bell. Thanks to Kapp’s incredible spell, Invincibles bowled out Brave for just 73 runs to clinch the inaugural trophy of the Hundred.
3) Natasha Farrant
Natasha Farrant picked a total of 4 wickets in the eliminator against Birmingham Phoenix in 2021. Her brilliant spell for Oval Invincibles helped them to qualify for the final of the tournament. This was the best return in the Hundred at that time, which was later replaced the very next day by teammate Marizanne Kapp in the final. Farrant conceded just 10 runs in the innings, she also bowled a stunning number of 13 dot balls. She got the wickets of captain Amy Jones, middle-order batter Gwenan Davies, Emily Arlott, and Kirstie Gordon.
4) Lauren Bell
Southern Brave’s Lauren Bell produced an absolute jaffa of a spell against Trent Rockets. She struck 4 times in the process. Bell conceded just 10 runs from her quota of 20 balls. Bell gave Southern Brave a perfect start to the match as she got her first wicket on the 2nd ball of the match itself. Bell got the wickets of Bryony Smith, Marie Kelly, Katherine Sciver Brunt, and Sarah Glenn. Her exceptional bowling helped Brave to restrict the Rockets to just 88.
5) Sophie Ecclestone
England’s star bowler currently, Sophie Ecclestone was on fire when she picked 4 wickets against Birmingham Phoenix on 7th August 2023. It was the same innings in which Fi Morris picked a 5-wicket haul. Ecclestone conceded just 11 runs from her quota of 20 balls. Sophie got the wickets of openers Eve Jones and Sophie Devine, middle order batters Erin Burn and Emily Arlott.
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