The much-awaited 100-ball cricket competition, the Hundred Women 2023, began with a captivating encounter between Trent Rockets and Southern Brave at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Tuesday. Under the leadership of Anya Shrubsole, Southern Brave emerged victorious, defeating the Rockets by 27 runs in the opening game of the tournament.
Southern Brave win the first match of #TheHundred 2023! 👏
They beat Trent Rockets by 27 runs 💪 pic.twitter.com/GOHJ1SZ8R8
— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 1, 2023
Smriti Mandhana set the tone with a brilliant knock
Indian cricket icon Smriti Mandhana stole the spotlight with a brilliant half-century, setting the tone for an exhilarating start to the competition. Batting first, the Brave posted a competitive total of 157/6, largely propelled by Mandhana’s blazing knock of 55 from just 36 deliveries, which included 6 fours and 2 sixes.
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Maia Bouchier‘s contribution of a crucial 18-ball 31 also played a vital role in building the Brave’s score. Bryony Smith stood out as the pick of the bowlers for the Rockets, securing two wickets for 34 runs in her spell. However, it wasn’t enough to restrict the Brave’s innings.
Mary Taylor gains attention with a top-class bowling exhibition
In response, the Rockets had a tough task ahead of them, chasing down the target of 158. Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt led the charge with a valiant 49 off 31 balls, but her efforts fell short as the Rockets could only manage to reach 130/7 at the end of their 100-ball innings.
The standout performer with the ball for Southern Brave was Mary Taylor, who proved to be the game-changer, claiming three crucial wickets for a mere 18 runs off her 20 deliveries. Her exceptional performance included 11 dot balls, applying pressure on the Rockets throughout their chase. Ultimately, it was Mandhana’s outstanding display with the bat that earned her the well-deserved title of Player of the Match.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
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