The Hundred: Marizanne mayhem, Jemimah's rescue act

Fans from all over the world are anticipating a month of exciting cricket as the third edition of The Hundred is about to commence in England. The tournament will be played from August 1 to 27. On the opening day, two time runners-up Southern Brave will take on Trent Rockets at Trent Bridge. 

After a truncated last season because of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, this time each team will play eight group fixtures like it was during the inaugural edition of the competition. 

As we build towards the tournament, Women's CricZone takes a look at five of our favourite individual performances over the course of the two seasons that surely left a permanent mark in The Hundred.

Mayhem from Marizanne

Marizanne Kapp 4/9 vs Southern Brave, 2021 final

While discussing the top performances, one just can’t stop talking about Marizanne Kapp. This Proteas allrounder, known for her ability to come good in finals, has played a major role in the Oval Invincibles’ successive titles with her player of the match performances in both the finals. In the 2021 final, she scored a quick fire 26 off 14 balls and to help Invincibles reach 121 for 6. 

And then she made the chase hell for Southern Brave. Within the first ten balls, their top three were back to the pavilion courtesy of a fiery opening spell from Kapp where they were reeling at 2 for 3. Brave were bundled out for just 73 with Kapp registering 4 for 9 which is still the best bowling figures across the two editions.

ALSO READ: Jemimah returns to Northern Superchargers

Wolfie's rescue act

Laura Wolvaardt 90* (49) vs Machester Originals, 2022

On the back of a blistering 68 not out off 30 balls from Deandra Dottin, Manchester Originals scored 160 runs from their 100 balls. Northern Superchargers were up against in a record chase. They needed a Herculean effort from one of their top order batters and that’s when this superwoman from South Africa stepped up.

Superchargers still required 55 runs from 24 balls when they lost their skipper Armitage and that’s when Wolvaardt decided to accelerate her innings and plundered boundaries at will. She scored 42 runs in the next 15 balls she faced at a strike rate of 280. The stylish batter remained unbeaten on 90 off 49 balls when Superchargers got over the line.

Charged up Rodrigues

Jemimah Rodrigues 92* (43) vs Welsh Fire, 2021

With 131 required off 100 balls at the start of it, most teams would prefer such chases but that was not the case with Northern Superchargers against Welsh Fire in the inaugural edition. Jemimah Rodrigues came to open and in no time found herself at the other end of a collapse with Superchargers reeling at 19 for 4.

From there, Rodrigues played like a lone ranger and scored almost seventy percent of the team’s total and managed to take her side over the line. Her magnificent knock included 74 runs coming just from the boundaries with 17 fours and one six.



Ever reliable Mooney

Beth Mooney 97* (55) vs Southern Brave, 2022

Nine out of ten times, when a player scores an unbeaten 97 off just 55 balls, she will be on the winning side. But that one time was when the ever consistent Beth Mooney found herself at the losing end even after scoring the tournament’s highest individual score till date.

London Spirit scored 155 from their allotted 100 balls thanks to the splendid knock from Mooney. But Southern Brave chased down the target - the second highest successful chase - thanks to a whirlwind innings from Danielle Wyatt. Despite the result, that valiant effort from Mooney was one of the best knocks in the small history of The Hundred.

Bell curve

Lauren Bell  4/10 vs Trent Rockets, 2022

22-year-old Lauren Bell has been one of the most consistent pacers in the tournament. Her ability to swing the new ball has given Southern Brave timely breakthroughs. Bell struck early with the big wicket of Bryony Smith and didn’t look back in that innings. She swung the ball prodigiously on her way to a four-fer. She picked up two more England internationals in Katherine Sciver-Brunt and Sarah Glenn.

How good was this slower ball from Lauren Bell to dismiss Dane van Niekerk?#TheHundredOnFanCode #TheHundred pic.twitter.com/sr7musELpG

— Women’s CricZone (@WomensCricZone) August 21, 2021

Brave managed to restrict Trent Rockets to just 88 runs due to that blazing spell by Bell. That spell stands just behind Kapp’s 4 for 9 in terms of best individual bowling figures in the tournament. Courtesy of her incredible effort, Brave registered the biggest win ever in the history both in terms of wickets and balls remaining as they chased the target down without losing a single wicket and had 44 balls to spare.