Oval Invincibles, the two-time Hundred champions, kicked off the fourth season of the tournament with a dominant 45-run victory over Birmingham Phoenix. Paige Scholfield, batting at the top of the order in place of Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu, led the charge with a sparkling 71.
Scholfield and England’s Alice Capsey formed a formidable partnership, putting on 90 runs for the second wicket. Capsey contributed 52 runs, and the duo shared 17 boundaries. Their explosive batting threatened to set a new record in the Hundred women’s competition.
However, a flurry of late wickets slowed down the Invincibles’ progress. Nevertheless, they set a challenging target of 150 runs for Birmingham Phoenix.
The Phoenix’s chase got off to a shaky start, losing three wickets with just 32 runs on the board. New Zealand captain Sophie Devine and Birmingham local Amy Jones offered some resistance, but the Invincibles’ bowling attack proved too strong.
Australian legspinner Amanda-Jade Wellington was the standout performer with the ball, taking three wickets for just nine runs. Her economical spell helped restrict the Phoenix to 105 runs, securing a comfortable 45-run victory for the Invincibles.
Scholfield, named the Meerkat Match Hero, expressed her delight at her performance. She credited her success to the support of Lauren Winfield-Hill and her trust in her own abilities.
The Invincibles’ victory sets the tone for the upcoming Hundred season, showcasing the exciting and competitive nature of the tournament.
