Lauren Bell helps Southern Brave ease past Manchester Originals in opener

The England seamer claims 3 for 28 from her 20 balls before Laura Wolvaardt's unbeaten 42 steers the successful chase

ECB Media | 06/08/2025 at 17:31

Old Trafford: Manchester Originals 95-8, Southern Brave 96-4 - Southern Brave won by six wickets

Southern Brave started life after Charlotte Edwards with a convincing win over Manchester Originals at Old Trafford.

The damage was all done with the ball, as Lauren Bell took 3 for 28 and Mady Villiers 2 for 19 to limit the hosts to just 95 for 8 from their 100 balls.

Seren Smale fought a lone hand for the Originals on a wicket that none of her teammates ever looked at home on, making 40 from 34 balls to give her side the faintest hope at the halfway mark.

But no side has ever defended fewer than 109 in The Hundred women’s competition, and their total never looked like enough. And while Brave were rarely fluent, they were always comfortable – easing to a six-wicket win with 11 balls to spare.

Former Originals batter Laura Wolvaardt, a direct signing for Southern Brave this season, showed her old team what they were missing with an assured and unbeaten 42.

She was supported by Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who made 32, as Brave's batting line-up eased over the line in first gear.

Having endured a surprising eighth-placed finish last summer, with just one win to their name, Brave - and their new head coach Luke Williams in particular - will have been pleased to start the campaign with a victory.

For Originals, it was a disappointing start to the season, and Smale's innings aside, a day of few positives – they'll hope to demonstrate it was a mere blip next time out at the Kia Oval on Saturday (August 9).