Beth Mooney's Unbeaten 99 Powers Manchester Originals to Victory at Old Trafford

In a thrilling encounter at Old Trafford, Beth Mooney led the Manchester Originals to a 17-run victory over the Northern Superchargers in the women's Hundred competition, showcasing her remarkable batting prowess with an unbeaten 99 runs. The Australian opener's performance not only marked the second highest individual score in the tournament's history but also helped the Originals post a formidable total of 151-3. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, the Originals saw an explosive start from Mooney and Laura Wolvaardt, who formed a solid partnership of 60 runs for the opening wicket. Although Wolvaardt was stumped by Linsey Smith, Mooney maintained the momentum, accumulating 51 runs in a crucial 67-run stand with Kathryn Bryce. However, the innings had a bittersweet ending for Mooney, as she narrowly missed a century, with the last ball of the innings leading to a run-out for the incoming Sophie Ecclestone. In response, the Superchargers struggled to find their footing early on, losing their openers, Davina Perrin and Hollie Armitage, for single figures. A brief resurgence came with a partnership between Phoebe Litchfield and Annabel Sutherland, adding 41 runs for the third wicket. However, a series of wickets, including Litchfield's dismissal by Kim Garth and Sutherland caught off Bryce, triggered a collapse that saw the Superchargers stumble to 102-4. Georgia Wareham attempted to salvage the innings with some aggressive hitting, but it was Bryce who put the nail in the coffin for the Superchargers. She took three wickets in a devastating final spell, including a remarkable catch from Mooney, ensuring the Superchargers finished well short of their target at 134-8. Despite the win, the Originals were already out of playoff contention, a fate sealed by earlier results that day. They now sit with six points, with one game remaining, while the Superchargers face a critical match against London Spirit on Tuesday. A win for the Superchargers would secure their place in the knockout stage, but a defeat could mean elimination. Reflecting on her near-century, Mooney expressed satisfaction with her performance, emphasizing that her goal was always to contribute to the team's success. "If you told me this morning I’d have scored that many runs I’d have taken it. I did the best I could, didn't quite get the milestone, but it's about putting the team in a winning position," she remarked, highlighting the competitive nature of the match and the quality of the wicket. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on the upcoming fixtures, particularly the Midlands derby between Birmingham Phoenix and Trent Rockets at Edgbaston, where fans can anticipate another exciting day of cricket with the women's match starting at 15:00 BST, followed by the men's game at 18:30. Live ball-by-ball commentary will be available on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds, and the BBC Sport website and app, ensuring fans don’t miss out on any of the action.