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Lord’s, London – Meg Lanning‘s explosive innings of 60 off 34 balls wasn’t enough to prevent Oval Invincibles from falling 17 runs short of Manchester Originals’ total in a Women’s Hundred match at Lord’s on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. Despite Lanning’s strong performance,Originals secured a victory with a final score of 166/6 to Invincibles’ 149/7.
Lanning, playing against her former team, acknowledged teh challenge posed by the originals’ batting lineup. “they were too good,” Lanning stated after the match. “They set a great total and we were a bit behind. I couldn’t get going early on. Once I found some tempo, I had some momentum going.”
Prior to her dismissal, Lanning showcased her form with a sequence of 6, 4, 4, 6, demonstrating her potential to lead a prosperous chase. Manchester Originals’ Amy Jones contributed a crucial 51 runs off 38 balls, while Danielle Wyatt added 38 off 28, setting the foundation for their competitive total.
A total of 16 Australian players are participating in the 2024 Women’s Hundred competition,representing seven of the eight teams. The only team without an Australian representative is Southern Vipers.
This season marks a significant transition for The Hundred, as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) relinquishes sole control, with majority stakes in six of the eight teams now held by private owners, including five Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises – Knight Riders, Capitals, JSW, Sunrisers, and Delhi Capitals.The ECB retains ownership of the Manchester Originals and Welsh Fire.
The sale of these stakes has generated approximately ยฃ1 billion (approximately $1.27 billion USD) for English cricket. While lauded for its financial boost, the move has faced criticism from some traditionalists concerned about the potential impact on the county cricket structure and the prioritization of the Hundred during the peak summer months. Concerns center around potential conflicts of interest and the long-term health of the broader English cricket ecosystem.
Despite these concerns, The Hundred continues to demonstrate its success in attracting new audiences to the sport. The midweek match at Lord’s drew a crowd of 15,640 spectators, highlighting the competition’s appeal beyond traditional cricket fans.
Cricket Australia officials are closely monitoring The Hundred’s model as they evaluate potential future