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‘There was never a run there!’ – Dunkley dismissed after miscommunication with Matthews
The Hundred women’s competition, Headingley
Northern Superchargers 141-4 (100 balls): Armitage 34* (27), Wareham 29 (17); Matthews 2-18
Welsh Fire 94 all out (98 balls): Beaumont 36 (21); Wareham 2-14
Superchargers won by 47 runs
Northern Superchargers secured a dominant 47-run victory over Welsh Fire, who succumbed to 94 all out at Headingley in The Hundred. The Superchargers’ performance saw them rise to the top of the league table.
After the Superchargers set a target of 141-4 from their allotted 100 balls, the Fire faltered early, collapsing to 6-2 following the dismissals of openers Sophia Dunkley and Hayley Matthews.
Captain Tammy Beaumont offered a glimmer of hope for the Fire, but her dismissal for 36 from 21 deliveries proved decisive, leading to the visitors’ lowest score in the competition.
Australian all-rounder Georgia Wareham delivered a standout performance for the Superchargers, contributing an unbeaten 29 from 17 balls in a crucial 52-run partnership with captain Hollie Armitage. Wareham also excelled with the ball, taking 2-14 with her leg-spin and contributing to two run-outs.
This significant victory substantially improves the Superchargers’ net run-rate, a factor that could be pivotal as the tournament progresses.
Opting to bat first, the Superchargers encountered setbacks as they lost wickets at crucial moments, hindering their momentum.
Annabel Sutherland displayed promising form before being caught off Matthews for 28. With the score at 89-4 after 65 balls, the innings hung in the balance.
However, Armitage and Wareham steered the Superchargers back on course, forming a resilient partnership to see out the innings.
The duo consistently found the boundary, maintaining a steady scoring rate, with Wareham concluding the innings emphatically by dispatching a Jess Jonassen full toss into the stands.
The Fire’s chase began disastrously, with Dunkley run out after a misjudged single. The pressure intensified when Linsey Smith removed the dangerous Matthews.
Beaumont countered effectively, leveraging her experience to strike three sixes in a display of controlled aggression. However, a 42-run partnership with Georgia Elwiss was curtailed by another run-out.
Wareham then dismissed Jonassen, before Grace Ballinger delivered a crucial blow by removing Beaumont, caught at cover by Armitage, leaving the Fire struggling at 58-5 at the halfway mark.
The Fire found no way back into the match, as Superchargers bowlers targeted the stumps with precision, claiming five wickets from 19 balls that would have struck the woodwork – including three bowled dismissals.
Despite late resistance from Shabnim Ismail and Katie Levick, the Superchargers wrapped up the innings with two balls to spare, propelling them to the top of the table based on net run-rate.
The Hundred 2025 – fixtures, results & reports
The Hundred 2025: Full squad lists
The action continues on Friday with a Midlands derby as Birmingham Phoenix and Trent Rockets commence their campaigns in a double-header at Edgbaston.
The women’s match is scheduled to begin at 15:00 BST, followed by the men’s game at 18:30 BST.
Live ball-by-ball commentary will be available on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds, and the BBC Sport website and app.
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