SunRisers Leeds Women kicked off a new era for The Hundred with a seven-wicket win over MI London as two teams who have undergone name changes following heavy overseas investment met at The Kia Oval.
Sunrisers, who won the title last year under their Northern Superchargers name, limited MI London, formerly known as Oval Invincibles, to 107-8 once they snapped an opening stand of 57 between Hayley Matthews (33) and Danni Wyatt-Hodge (29).
The visitors then eased to their target with 31 balls to spare as Australian opener Phoebe Litchfield (43 off 26) bounced back from running out her countrywomen Jess Jonassen (14) after attempting a single that was never on.
Another Aussie, Annabel Sutherland, contributed 30 not off 23 deliveries, while skipper Dani Gibson (12no off 7) spanked the winning boundary.
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SunRisers’ Jess Jonassen was ‘barbecued’ by Phoebe Litchfield as she was run out for 14
The one sour note for SunRisers was the shoulder injury suffered by Kate Cross, shortly after she had taken an excellent running catch at long-on to dismiss Wyatt-Hodge.
Cross landed awkwardly fielding at extra-cover and walked off in pain – she has not dislocated her shoulder but will undergo scans.
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SunRisers’ Kate Cross was taken off the field with a shoulder injury
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Cross had earlier taken a terrific catch to dismiss former England team-mate Danni Wyatt Hodge
Gibson (2-17) – the most expensive English player in the Hundred auction earlier this year as SunRisers forked out £190k for her – chipped in with two wickets, including that of Australia’s Nicola Carey (5), bowled by a cross-seamer.
Wyatt-Hodge, West Indies skipper Matthews and New Zealand captain Melie Kerr (13) all fell to spin.
Deepti Sharma (2-20) accounted for Wyatt-Hodge and Matthews – the latter was out to a sharp caught-and-bowled by the India all-rounder – while young English leg-spinner Hannah Baker removed Kerr during her 2-16.
What’s next?
Wednesday’s Hundred double-header comes from the Utilita Bowl in Southampton as Southern Brave take on Welsh Fire. The women’s game starts at 2.45pm, with the men’s match under way from 6.30pm. Catch both fixtures live on Sky Sports.
