Bell rips through Originals to hand Brave victory

The Hundred women’s competition, Old Trafford

Manchester Originals 95-8 (100 balls): Smale 40* (34); Bell 3-28

Southern Brave 96-4 (89 balls): Wolvaardt 42* (37); Gregory 1-11

Southern Brave won by six wickets

England seamer Lauren Bell took 3-28 as Southern Brave cruised to a six-wicket win in their opening fixture against Manchester Originals in The Hundred.

Mady Villiers chipped with in with figures of 2-19, while 17-year-old Tilly Corteen-Coleman claimed 1-12 in a dismal Originals batting performance.

Only Seren Smale emerged with any credit from the home side’s innings, finishing with an undefeated 40 to take her team to 95-8 from their hundred balls.

South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt top-scored in Brave’s chase, striking 42 not out against her former team.

The visiting side never looked in danger of failing to reach their low target, but did see four wickets fall, with Dani Gregory taking 1-11.

After reaching the final of the first three editions of The Hundred, winning in 2023, Southern Brave had a shocking campaign last year – winning just one of their eight matches as they finished bottom.

On this evidence they will fare better this season, with an attack spear-headed by Bell and a supporting cast of impressive spinners.

England’s opening bowler broke the stumps of Kathryn Bryce in her first set and saw New Zealand international Melie Kerr paddle the final ball of the powerplay straight to Chloe Tryon.

Meanwhile Villiers accounted for Originals captain Beth Mooney, with the world’s number one batter cutting to Danni Wyatt-Hodge for just one.

Originals slipped to 66-8 after 74 balls, with 17-year-old Corteen-Coleman bowling the big-hitting Deandra Dottin for eight and Bell catching Fi Morris off her own bowling.

Smale dragged her side towards vague respectability, putting on an unbroken partnership of 29 with Gregory.

Her score of 40 from 34 deliveries was easily the highest of the Originals innings, with Kerr (14) the only other batter to make double figures.

Brave lost opener Maia Bouchier early on, caught by Ecclestone off Dottin for six, bringing Wolvaardt to the crease.

The South African, who was making her first appearance in a Brave shirt after two years at Old Trafford, put on 48 for the second wicket with Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who made 32.

She saw Wyatt-Hodge and Sophie Devine dismissed in the space of five balls and Freya Kemp caught off Kerr with 16 more runs required.

We’re off to Headingley on Thursday as Northern Superchargers take on Welsh Fire in another double-header.