Australia’s Grace Harris played a starring role during The Hundred’s season opener on Tuesday, hitting a rapid half-century for the London Spirit in a cross-town derby against the Oval Invincibles at Lord’s.
The Queenslander was named player of the match after cracking an unbeaten 89 from 42 balls, smacking seven boundaries and six sixes to help the Spirit seal a 17-run victory.
Harris combined with Cordelia Griffith for a 100-run partnership for the third wicket as the hosts posted 5-176, with Queensland wicketkeeper Georgia Redmayne dismissed by South African veteran Marizanne Kapp for a sixth-ball duck.
Former Australian captain Meg Lanning top-scored during the run chase with a 51-ball 85 that featured seven boundaries and five sixes, but the Invincibles ultimately fell short of the 177-run target.
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Later in the men’s match, former Australian opener David Warner was dismissed cheaply in his Hundred debut as the Spirit, coached by Justin Langer, suffered a low-scoring six-wicket loss to the Invincibles at the same venue.
The hosts were rolled for 80 in 94 deliveries — the franchise’s lowest score in the competition’s brief history — with West Australian Ashton Turner the only Spirit player to pass 12.
Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan was the pick of the bowlers with 3-11 from 20 deliveries, while Australian quick Jason Behrendorff took 1-17 from 20 deliveries.
The Invincibles only needed 69 deliveries to chase the modest 81-run target, with Turner dismissed England all-rounder Sam Curran to finish with 1-7 from five balls.
On Wednesday, the Manchester Originals will host the Southern Brave at Old Trafford.