The curtain falls on The Hundred group stages
FEATUREAs we say goodbye to the group stages, we look back on what has been a fantastic journey through the first ever The Hundred groups.
During the group stage, we've seen
In the group stages, we saw 15,396 runs and 676 wickets as well as many sixes and fours finding their way into the crowd. Not to mention a couple of great catches from those in the stands.
We opened the competition with Oval Invincibles against Manchester Originals at The Kia Oval with the Women's Competition the showpiece event.
Invincibles captain Dane van Niekerk steered her side to victory, hitting a brilliant 56 runs. She scored the first ever 50 of the competition, closing a party atmosphere in front of the home fans.
The first men’s match of the competition began the day after as the home side made it a double victory in their double-header against the Originals. Captain Sam Billings fell just one short of a 50 but the side’s 145 runs in the first innings was enough for victory.
The fans loved all the action and chaos of The Hundred.
Jemimah Rodrigues hit a huge 92 not out in the Superchargers’ first match which is the Women's Competition’s highest individual score. It was the beginning of the Superchargers Women's charge towards the top three, winning three and getting a washout in their opening four matches.
Marchant de Lange took the first 5-wicket haul in the competition in the Rockets' first victory over the Southern Brave. His bowling figures of 5 wickets from 20 runs are the best in the competition and the fast bowler has been instrumental in the Trent Bridge side making the Eliminators.
Northern Superchargers hit the first score of 200, smashing the Manchester Originals thanks to a big knock by John Simpson, who scored 71 runs from 28 balls.
Imran Tahir took the first hat-trick in The Hundred as well as the second 5-wicket haul. He wheeled off in celebration in front of a Birmingham crowd that erupted at the sight of his third in a row.
The first London derby match went the way of the Oval Invincibles, with 16-year-old Alice Capsey stealing the show at Lord’s. Her 59 runs from 41 balls was a top score as the Invincibles set a winning 132 runs in the first innings.
The wins were shared between the two different sides in the Northern derby as the Manchester Originals Women claimed the first win of the day before the Northern Superchargers Men won the second meeting with a huge 200 runs in the first innings.
In the penultimate group stage game, Liam Livingstone was in fine form for Birmingham Phoenix. He hit 10 sixes and 3 fours on his way to a joint top highest individual score with 92, matching that of Jemimah Rodrigues earlier in the competition. His innings helped the Phoenix cruise into the final at Lord’s.
We’ve loved all the action. Every ball, every run, every boundary and every wicket. Now it’s all on the line in the upcoming Eliminators and Finals Day.
On Friday, Oval Invincibles will play Birmingham Phoenix in the Women's Competition Eliminator. Then Southern Brave face Trent Rockets in the Men's Competition.
Southern Brave Women are ready and waiting in the Final. While Birmingham Phoenix Men await their opponents too.