Analysing and Reviewing the performances of the players, the strategies used and what the future holds, as ‘The Hundred’ started with its first match between the Oval Invincibles Women and Manchester Originals Women
The Hundred – not just a new cricket format, and a new cricket series, but a whole new extravaganza, as the ECB intended it to be. A first of its kind series started with a first of its kind match, which started with a first of its kind bowling spell, atleast in recorded history, in which Marizanne Kapp bowled 10 consecutive legitimate deliveries. Not 5, Not 6, but 10 consecutive legitimate deliveries plus one wide to start the brand new series with.
The opener at one of the grounds with a rich history – The Oval – was contested between two sides which were as different as they could be in their strengths. The power of the Manhcester Originals lied in their batting prowess, but what gives them the advantage throughout the series as analysed in the Preview, is that they have a well settled side consisting of good bowlers, and all rounders as well. On the other hand, the Oval Invincibles are more about the fast bowling power they possess. And hence on paper and for most of the game, it was Manchester Originals who had the upper hand until it slipped out. So, what does the first match tell us about the two teams, and most importantly the format and the series?
OVAL INVINCIBLES (WON BY 5 WICKETS)
Oval Invincibles tried to exploit the new format to its fullest potential. They started off by having Kapp bowl 10 consecutive balls, and even the captain did the same. They changed bowlers after 5 balls as well. Their bowling line – up boasts of some very good internationally recognized pacers such as Kapp and Ismail. They have invested well in their bowlers.
The Invincibles got off to a great start in the first innings on the back of the movement that Kapp was able to get from the ball. And that first wicket by extending her spell a bit was the silver lining. They used this tactic more than just once. Mainly with the two spinners. One of them, the captain’s spell, was successful, the other one was not so. This is where the game changed. The game was in the hand of the Originals even after the first wicket fell, as their main players were still in play, or going to come into play. After that second wicket fell, Lizelle Lee was still going but Harmanpreet hadn’t gotten a chance to get going. That over for Villiers gave her that chance. The Invincibles played Villiers, a spinner, who gave the batter just that flight and width required for Kaur to drive it down. And then the second ball just did not have the right line, it was too much on the leg side. This was all that was needed for Kaur to open up an hence, this is the point where the game seemed to have completely slipped out. If Invincibles would have lot, then this over would have been the one responsible mainly for it.
In the batting innings, the first two wickets were straight up disappointing for them. The first was wrong shot selection’s potent example. The ball was not placed in the manner that the batter perceived it to be, and if it would be dropped, then that would be disappointing from the side of the Originals. Van Nekierk was their hope who delivered. She played a measured innings, a very measured innings. An innings that allowed the game to progress at a rate that the game never gets out of the hand of the anyside from the top but deep within the batting side has it since their main batter is still playing till the end as she hasn’t played any crazy shots or is taking too many risks.
Van Neikerk was the batter who saved the Invincibles, and the partnership with Kapp changed the game. Kapp is a bowling all – rounder, and her batting is not the strongest but is good. The situation required her to play an innings which was true to her and put the pressure on the opposition not by scoring at a very high strike rate but staying Not Out and rotating strike, and she did it. Then came Villiers who had a simple task to score as many runs with freedom and she played her role. By the time she had come on, it can’t be called an ideal situation for her to come and bat but it became ideal due to the way the Originals played it out, and the momentum being in Neikerk’s hand and not a responsibility of Villiers.
MANCHESTER ORIGINALS
Manchester Originals were not off to the greatest of starts but the batting line up that they posses may not run very deep but they players up front are as good as they get. Lizelle Lee(42(39)) as an opener for the side helped them set the foundation for the innings. It was Lee who held held the innings together and not only that she was also the one who kept the runs flowing in good quantity. Missing out on her fifty later on was not ideal with regards to the innings she played, but she did play play a mistimed shot to end up being caught out. But by then, she had done the work. She had helped build partnerships, by the time she got out, Kaur(29(16)) was set, and although every ball that Lee stayed more for, would help the Manchester Originals, her wicket did not dampen the situation for the Originals a lot. It was Harmanpreet Kaur’s wicket which did that.
There were three noticeable innings by the players in the first innings of the match. Lizelle Lee’s batting, Harmanpreet Kaur’s batting and also that of Du Preez. With Sophie Ecclestone putting the icing on the top for her side, at the end. When you add these innings up you get what was a wonderful 100 balls for Manchester Originals, especially when it was the first time they were batting in such a format. Lizelle Lee is a good hitter of the ball. She has power to hit, and places it well while playing a range of shots. Du Preez was able to get to the ball well, and Kaur continued her journey back to her complete form, and the Originals benefitted from that. Kaur’s innings was the second most important one, the most important being Lee’s innings whose form even helped Kaur settle in well.
The bowling innings was one where they faultered a bit. Firstly, they used their bowlers like they would in a normal match, not bowling two overs consecutively. There is nothing wrong in it as such but with the bowlers they had and the kind of situation they had created, they could use some of their bowlers like Sophie Ecclestone in a slightly better manner by taking advantage of that freedom of choice the rules give to a certain extent.
Alongside having a good set of batters, they have two world class bowlers up front followed by the others, out of whom also the fast bowlers are very good in placing the ball. Kate Cross as always, is someone who places the ball, and sets up the batter well. She was one of the best and was also the most effective bowler during the series vs India for that simple reason. She can get you good wickets quickly. Ecclestone is a spinner defined by her bowling action and sheer consistency. That is what she showed even during this match. Repeating the successful delivery again and again with slight changes in speed.
The Manchester Originals had the match in their hands till the start of the final over, thanks to their wicket – keeper, the powerplay spell, and Ecclestone dragging the game back in the final two balls of the penultimate over. But then they made a slight error which was picked upon very well by the batter, and that was it, with 2 balls remaining the Invincibles had sealed a match wherein the only time Manchester Originals faulted was during the middle overs of the second innings, but they faulted big and that was it.
STRATEGY CHOICE
Something that not only relates to a single match but whole format and series for both – the men’s as well as the women’s games – is working out the best strategy. This format gives a lot to the bowlers as analyzed in detail in the format and playing conditions analysis. But it also about exploiting them You can have the best of bowlers but still fail whereas the other side, the opposition that is, can take advantage of the rules and even put up a great challenge with what you may call as an “inferior bowling line – up”, just by having the perfect strategy. The strategy of giving your best bowler, in terms of those who produce dot balls, a long spell of 10 consecutive balls at the end stands, something that seems to be strengthened by how the final few overs of the opening match played out.
All in all, it was a good game and it has showed the potential that The Hundred does possess. Not much but still there is some. It will be about understanding and learning from this game and utilizing that understanding and learning in the future that can help make this competition more fierce. To start with, the league gave a game which Manchester Originals Women’s to lose (as in they had the upper hand throughout), and they did!
|67 MORE GAMES OF STRATEGY AND BATTLES AWAIT|
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