Lauren Winfield-Hill makes mockery of record chase for Oval Invincibles

The England opener plundered an unbeaten 74 from 42 balls with one six and 11 fours, sharing an opening stand of 104 with New Zealander Suzie Bates, as the hosts cantered to a target of 144 with 16 balls to spare against Northern Superchargers

Kia Oval: Northern Superchargers 143-5, Oval Invincibles 146-1 - Oval Invincibles won by nine wickets

Scorecard

Lauren Winfield-Hill haunted her former teammates as Oval Invincibles began their title defence with an emphatic win over Northern Superchargers in the first game of the 2022 women's Hundred.

The England opener plundered an unbeaten 74 from 42 balls with one six and 11 fours, sharing an opening stand of 104 with New Zealander Suzie Bates, as the hosts cantered to a target of 144 with 16 balls to spare.

The successful chase came after Superchargers posted 143 for 5, courtesy of 51 from one of the stars of the 2021 Hundred - Jemimah Rodrigues - and 49 from Laura Wolvaardt. Ryana Macdonald-Gay was the pick of the hosts' attack with 2 for 25.

Alyssa Healy, fresh from her gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, got Superchargers off to an explosive start after they were invited to bat first, clearing the ropes as she plundered 14 from the first set of five from Mady Villiers.

^{Suzie Bates hits out for Oval Invincibles [Getty Images]}

The fun didnt last long, though, as she lofted spinner Sophia Smale's third ball to mid-off.

Thereafter, Rodrigues took centre stage, sweeping powerfully but also playing the cut shot with great finesse.

She found a willing ally in South Africa's Wolvaard, who survived a close call for a stumping and a rapid ball from Shabnim Ismail as the duo shared a fourth-wicket stand of 66.

Rodrigues reached 50 from 31 balls with a glorious late cut only to hole out next ball off the impressive Macdonald-Gay, and Superchargers went 20 balls without a boundary before some late blows from Wolvaardt took them to a seemingly imposing score.

Bates and Winfield-Hill though set about the chase with relish, the former striking Lucy Higham for successive fours, while the latter clouted a short one from Beth Langston over the ropes.

New Zealander Bates was given a life on 10 when Katie Levick shelled the simplest of catches off the bowling of Linsey Smith and, as if one reprieve wasn't enough, Bates was missed again in the next set when Jenny Gunn failed to cling on to a tough caught and bowled.

^{Jemimah Rodrigues reacts to being dismissed [Getty Images]}

The pair forged on, reaching 69 at halfway, and the strategic time out did little to dent their momentum, Bates sweeping Davidson-Richards behind square for six.

Winfield-Hill matched Rodrigues in reaching 50 in 31 balls and, with Bates in full flow, the  century stand was raised.

It took a superb catch by Wolvaardt off Gunn to remove Bates for 46, while Capsey was then dropped first ball, albeit a difficult chance to Heath at square leg.

It proved Superchargers' last hope as Capsey joined in the fun with a rapid 25 from just eight balls to complete a dominant win.