The Hundred Women's 2022, Match 8 Review: Hayley Matthews, Tammy Beaumont shine as Manchester Originals register their first win of the season

It was a thrilling contest between the Manchester Originals and the Welsh Fire in the eighth game of The Hundred Women’s 2022 competition at Old Trafford. While it looked like Welsh Fire would chase the target set by Manchester Originals to get their first points on the board, the hosts made it difficult for the batters towards the end and the bowlers restricted them really well to bag an 11-run victory.

After having been put to bat first by Welsh, Manchester opener Emma Lamb took charge of the game and started piling up runs, while Lizelle Lee looked for opportunities to score. Just when the powerplay was about to end, Alex Hartley dismissed Lee and the former Proteas batter had to walk back again without contributing much.

All-rounder Deandra Dottin then joined Emma Lamb and the two shared a 67-run stand for the second wicket before the latter walked off scoring a 41-ball 35-run knock. But the former West Indies batter – Deandra Dottin, was unstoppable as she punished the Welsh bowlers and got talking with her bat. Sophie Ecclestone, a lower-order all-rounder, was sent up the order to bat at No. 4 as she joined Dottin in the six-hitting spree.

The duo shared a composed 62-run stand and batted their way through till the end of the innings, taking the team’s tally to 156/2 at the end of 100 balls. Ecclestone was at her best as she notched up an unbeaten quickfire 18-ball 36 runs studded with three fours and two maximums, whereas Dottin remained unbeaten at 67*(37) after hitting eight fours and two sixes.

Welsh Fire fell short of just 11 runs

As for the Welsh Fire, skipper Tammy Beaumont and Caribbean power-hitter Hayley Matthews opened the innings for the chase. The duo powered their team from the word go and led their way with the bat, hitting the big shots and scoring the crucial runs. After Dottin’s show in the first innings, it was time for her compatriot Matthews to make it big.

The 110-run partnership between Beaumont and Matthews came to an end when Ecclestone got the better of the latter, dismissing her for a 69-run knock that came off 41 deliveries. The wicket proved to be a major boost for the Manchester Originals, and Welsh Fire lost their momentum as even Beaumont, who remained unbeaten till the end scoring a 45*(42), could not help her team cross the finish line. As a result, Manchester Originals registered their first win and got their first two points.