SunRisers Leeds Women started a new era for The Hundred with a seven-wicket win over MI London as two teams that have undergone name changes following major overseas investment met at The Kia Oval.
The Sunrisers, who won the title last year under their Northern Superchargers moniker, restricted MI London, formerly known as the Oval Invincibles, to 107-8 as they got an opening stand of 57 between Hayley Matthews (33) and Danni Wyatt-Hodge (29).
The visitors then eased to their target with 31 balls to spare as Australian opener Phoebe Litchfield (43 off 26) came back to run out her compatriot Jess Jonassen (14) after attempting a single that was never on.
Another Australian, Annabel Sutherland, contributed with 30 not out off 23 deliveries, while skipper Dani Gibson (12no off 7) hit the winning boundary.
The only sour note for the SunRisers was the shoulder injury suffered by Kate Cross shortly after she took an excellent running catch at long-on to dismiss Wyatt-Hodge.
Cross landed awkwardly in extra coverage and walked away in pain – she has not dislocated her shoulder but will undergo scans.
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SunRisers’ Kate Cross was taken off with a shoulder injury
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Cross had earlier taken a stunning catch to dismiss former England teammate Danni Wyatt Hodge
Gibson (2-17) – the most expensive English player in the Hundred auction earlier this year when the SunRisers shelled out £190,000 for her – chipped in with two wickets, including Australia’s Nicola Carey (5), bowled by a cross-seamer.
Wyatt-Hodge, West Indies skipper Matthews and New Zealand captain Melie Kerr (13) all fell.
Deepti Sharma (2-20) accounted for Wyatt-Hodge and Matthews – the latter was out to a crisp caught-and-bowled by the Indian all-rounder – while young England leg-spinner Hannah Baker removed Kerr during her 2-16.
What’s next?
Wednesday’s Hundred double-header comes from the Utilita Bowl in Southampton as Southern Brave take on Welsh Fire. The women’s match starts at 2.45pm and the men’s match is underway from 6.30pm. Watch both matches live on Sky Sports.