| Manchester Originals 135-6 (100 balls): Lee 42 (39), Farrant 3-25 |
| Oval Invincibles 139-5 (98 balls): Van Niekerk 56*, Cross 3-28 |
| Invincibles won by five wickets with two balls remaining |
| Scorecard |
The Hundred in 100 words
Oval Invincibles pulled off a thrilling victory over Manchester Originals as the women’s Hundred began with a bang at The Oval.
Chasing 136, the Invincibles were 36-4 before South Africa pair Dane van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp combined for a partnership of 73.
Kapp was brilliantly stumped by Ellie Threkeld for 38 but captain Van Niekerk hit 56 not out to guide her team home.
She hit Kate Cross for four to seal the win with two balls remaining, resulting in wild celebrations from the youthful London crowd – believed to be a record for a domestic women’s professional match.
Opening night thriller tournament has dreamed of
Could the much-debated Hundred have had a better opening night? Almost certainly not.
There were around 7,400 people in attendance, many of those young children and families, and when the home side secured victory there were people dancing in the aisles.
The night began with dramatic fireworks, had DJs and music acts but by the end everyone at The Oval was engrossed on the cricket.
Van Niekerk, who was crucially dropped twice, played brilliantly and showed all of her experience built in a 186-game international career.
The Invincibles needed 16 from the last 10 balls and Mady Villiers hit her England team-mate Sophie Ecclestone for six over long on.
She hit Kate Cross for four at the start of the final set of five balls before Van Niekerk secured the win with an edge wide of the wicketkeeper.
Even in defeat, Manchester’s Alex Hartley was smiling, given the occasion.
“I have never been prouder of a women’s cricket game,” she said, summing the night up perfectly.
More to follow.
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