The Hundred Women’s Competition Begins at the Kia Oval
In a commanding performance, the Oval Invincibles triumphed over the Birmingham Phoenix by 45 runs during the opening match of The Hundred women’s tournament. Paige Scholfield stole the spotlight with her impressive innings of 71 runs off 40 balls, marking her first half-century in this competition. Alongside Alice Capsey, who contributed 52 runs, the duo formed a formidable partnership that led to a 90-run stand for the second wicket.
Despite a strong bowling effort from Emily Arlott, who took 2 wickets for 19 runs, the Phoenix struggled to contain the Invincibles, who set a challenging target of 150 runs. The Phoenix’s batting order failed to respond effectively, ultimately collapsing for just 105 runs.
The Birmingham Phoenix, still seeking their first victory in The Hundred after a winless season last year, encountered significant challenges. They have yet to successfully chase a target beyond 128 runs in previous tournaments. The disappointment was compounded by the early dismissals of key players. The star overseas trio, including Suzie Bates, Ellyse Perry, and Sophie Devine, fell short, contributing a mere 19 runs collectively.
Wicketkeeper Amy Jones managed to make a brief impression with 21 runs, but the team’s innings quickly deteriorated under the excellent bowling of Amanda-Jade Wellington, who achieved remarkable figures of 3 wickets for just 9 runs.
Paige Scholfield, Player of the Match: I was pretty nervous but once I got a feel for the pitch I just went for it. Playing in a competition like this with the quality there is, it’s nice to get a score. I trusted my shots.
Ellyse Perry, Captain of Birmingham Phoenix: It was a tough game for us. We were a bit loose in the field and obviously with the bat we didn’t get a partnership – the key to any good chase – which put us on the back foot.
The competition continues with another women’s and men’s doubleheader set for Wednesday, featuring the Southern Brave against the London Spirit at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton. Commentary will be available on BBC Radio 5 Extra at 14:45 (BST) and accessible through various platforms including BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website.
