Perrin century thrusts Northern Superchargers into the final

Davina Perrin’s undefeated 101 – only the second century in the history of The Women’s Hundred Competition – propelled Northern Superchargers into the final with an emphatic 42-run victory over London Spirit at the Oval on Saturday.

Perrin hit as many as 15 boundaries and five sixes in her 43-ball blitzkrieg as Superchargers posted a monumental 214 for 5, the highest team total in the history of the competition where each team gets to face a stipulated 100 balls, with ten deliveries being bowled in a row from each end, meaning a game should take less than two-and-a-half hours to wind up. The total proved far beyond the reach of Spirit despite Charli Knott’s 16-ball 40 and Georgia Redmayne’s 30-ball 50.

Inserted, Superchargers gained early control with Perrin taking the attack to Kate Coppack and Eva Gray. Even as her opening partner, Davidson Richards, struggled for rhythm, Perrin’s fluency ensured an opening stand of 105 in only 49 balls before Richards departed for a forgettable 18-ball 15.

The incoming batter, Phoebe Litchfield hit the straps after a sluggish start. Gray bore the brunt of Phoebe’s growing confidence as she ended up conceding 42 runs from her three five-ball sets. Eventually both the set players departed in quick succession, but Nicola Carey’s finishing kick at the death helped Superchargers to a commanding total.