The Hundred Women Northern Superchargers v Manchester Originals at Headingley August 13th

Phoebe Litchfield top scored for the Northern Supercharges with 39 as they beat local rivals Manchester Originals by four runs in front of a record crowd at  Headingley.

The Supercharges  made 133 in their 100 balls with 29 coming off the last 10 balls  as the Manchester Originals looked lacklustre in the field. Litchfield hit three consecutive fours off  Deandra Dottin: the first was straight down the pitch, the next was a scoop and the third was a drive to the point boundary.  She smashed the next ball through point and set off for a single.   Marie Kelly responded and turned for a second but was sent back by Lichfield and failed to beat Fi  Morris’ throw.

On her way to 39 Lichfield, reversed slogged Morris to the point boundary.   She  drove Amanda- Jade Wellington and looked certain to be caught but the ball burst through Dottin’s hands at wide mid off.  Litchfueld went down the pitch to Sophie  Ecclestone and smashed the ball straight back and Ecclestone took the catch leaping to her right.

The Supercharges lost their first wicket when Jemimah Rodrigues clipped Mahika Gaur off her legs but  found Katie George on the mid wicket boundary to end Rodrigues miserable innings.

Supercharges Captain Hollie Armitage top edged a pull off Morris and stumper Threlked took a steepling catch. In the driving rain Bess Heath greeted the arrival of George to the attack by pulling her for a six and her five balls cost her 18 runs.

As the rain got heavier the Manchester Originals target was reduced to 113 off 80 balls.  Originals’ Laura Wolvaardt said: “ Even in a reduced knock you still have more time to build an innings than people think.” The  Originals lost their first wicket on 11  when Emma Lamb pushed Grace Ballinger out on the offside and set off for a single. Wolvaardt responded but couldn’t beat Ballinge’s  direct hit.  Five runs late the Orginals lost their second wicket when Lucy Higham trapped Amy Campbell for a duck.

 Dutton swept Lynsey Smith over the mid wicket boundary for a huge six and in the next set she drove Georgia Wareham to the cover boundary.  She clubbed the next ball straight and finished the set with another boundary through mid wicket.  Without adding to her score she tried to smash Alice Davidson-Richards over the mid wicket boundary but found Wareham who did well to take the catch and not touch the boundary.

Emma Lamb, top scored for the Originals with 49 and was the sixth out when they needed nine to win when she top edged a scoop off Davidson-Richards and Heath took a simple catch.  

With six needed off the last ball  Morris holed out to Smith on the square leg boundary, five yards either side of her and Morris would have won the match.

Armitage said: “We would have liked 10 or 20 more but I  thought their bowlers bowled well in the middle overs. After the rain delay we were more than happy to defend. We’ve got to take it every  game has it  comes and we’ve got three important games left to get to Lord’s.  The support here has been amazing and long may it continue.”

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