Australia’s Annabel Sutherland has produced an all-round masterclass as the Northern Superchargers cemented their spot in the Hundred playoffs with a thumping victory over the Manchester Originals in Leeds.
The 23-year-old, later named player of the match, took three wickets and cracked an unbeaten 30 off 17 balls during the run chase as the Yorkshire-based franchise defeated Originals by eight wickets at Headingley on Tuesday.
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The visitors were bowled out for 94 in 95 balls, with only captain Beth Mooney (20 off 13 balls) and Alice Monaghan (26 off 17 balls) reaching double figures. Australian import Nicola Carey, who replaced the injured Georgia Wareham earlier this month, snared two wickets and produced a run out, while Sutherland finished with 3-15 from 20 balls.
Elsewhere, veteran seamer Kate Cross, omitted from England’s World Cup squad this week, only conceded six runs during an impressive 15-ball spell.
The Superchargers made light work of the run chase, reaching the target in just 65 deliveries courtesy of Sutherland and national teammate Phoebe Litchfield, who cracked an unbeaten 26 from 30 balls.
“It feels great,” Sutherland, the No. 1 bowler on the ICC Women’s T20I rankings, said after the match.
“Hopefully we can carry that momentum into the next two games. We love it at Headingley and I guess it shows in the results we’ve got here.
“Everyone’s really keen for Saturday, and hopefully we will put our best foot forward. We honestly just have a blast out there. We really enjoy each other’s company. It’s a great tournament, lots of fun.”
Litchfield is the second-leading run-scorer of this year’s Hundred with 231 runs at 46.20 with a strike rate of 150.98, while Sutherland is averaging 57.66 with the bat this season.
“It feels like they’re hitting their straps at just the right time,” Superchargers captain Hollie Armitage said of the Australian duo.
“(Sutherland) is brilliant with bat and ball and in the field and she’s someone I lean on as well from a captaincy point of view, so she’s brilliant to have in the squad.”
Sitting second on the Hundred standings with six wins from eight games, the Superchargers will face reigning champions the London Spirit in Saturday’s Eliminator at The Oval, with the victory progressing through to Sunday’s final against the undefeated Southern Brave at Lord’s.
The Brave is the only team in the women’s competition without an Australian representative.
Elsewhere during the men’s match, the Originals defeated the Superchargers by seven wickets courtesy of a rapid half-century from wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.
Chasing a modest 140-run target for victory, the Manchester-based franchise got the job done with 16 balls to spare after Buttler clobbered a 37-ball 70 that featured five sixes. He received support from New Zealand recruit Rachin Ravindra, who finished unbeaten on 47 from 23 balls, while England legend James Anderson took two wickets.
On Wednesday, the Trent Rockets will host the Birmingham Phoenix at Nottingham’s Trent Bridge.