THE HUNDRED WOMEN’S COMPETITION 2025
Gaur picked two wickets © Getty
Welsh Fire’s winless run extended to three games in the 2025 Women’s Hundred as Manchester Originals delivered a clinical performance to register a seven-wicket victory in Cardiff. The win was Originals’ second in four games, moving them up to fourth on the points table while Fire remained rooted to the bottom.
Fire endured a torrid first innings, crumbling to 73/9 in their allotted 100 balls as Originals’ attack delivered a masterclass in disciplined bowling. The collapse began early when Mahika Gaur struck twice in quick succession, removing Sophia Dunkley (2) and Tammy Beaumont (0) cheaply. At 2/2, Fire desperately needed a partnership, and briefly found one between Georgia Elwiss and Hayley Matthews. However, Sophie Ecclestone’s guile proved decisive as she got rid of both the set batters.
Lauren Filer then ran riot in the middle period, claiming three wickets – Sarah Bryce (4), Emily Windsor (0), and Jess Jonassen all fell to the seamer’s hard-hitting deliveries as Fire slumped from 54/3 to 66/7. Kathryn Bryce finished the demolition job, accounting for Katie George (2) and Freya Davies (4) as Fire’s tail offered little resistance as they failed to cross 75.
Originals also struggled initially in the chase, slipping to 13/2 as Matthews and Davies removed Beth Mooney and Amelia Kerr respectively. However, a watchful partnership between Kathryn Bryce and Seren Smale steadied the ship. Although only 46 runs came off the first 60 balls of the chase, the modest target remained well within Originals’ grasp.
Both batters started cautiously – Bryce needed 28 deliveries for her first boundary while Smale took 22 balls for hers. But they picked up pace after the careful start, with Bryce dealing in regular boundaries as they raised a half-century stand. Bryce fell five short of fifty, stumped off Jonassen, before Smale struck the winning boundary with 19 deliveries to spare.
Brief scores: Welsh Fire 73/9 in 100 balls (Hayley Matthews 22; Lauren Filer 3-8, Mahika Gaur 2-10, Kathryn Bryce 2-7, Sophie Ecclestone 2-11) lost to Manchester Originals 76/3 in 81 balls (Kathryn Bryce 45, Seren Smale 20*; Freya Davies 1-8) by 7 wickets.
© Cricbuzz
