The Hundred Women’s 2025 season is providing us with a thrilling spectacle, including the first win of the season for Southern Brave Women (SB-W) via an excellent performance against Manchester Originals Women (MO-W) in the second match. Following on from this win, we can also dissect the points table, which has begun to take shape, with two clubs locked together at the top of the table.

Following a comfortable win against Manchester Originals, Southern Brave now have 4 points and sit third in the table, alongside London Spirit Women, who had already played and won their first match. Both Manchester Originals and Oval Invincibles have suffered defeats in their respective opening matches and sit below Southern Brave, beginning with zero points.

Updated Points Table – The Hundred Women 2025 (After Match 2)

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The Hundred Women 2025 – Key Stats (After Match 2)

Southern Brave Women launched their campaign in The Hundred Women 2025 with a nail-biting 1-run victory over Manchester Originals at Emirates Old Trafford. After deciding to bowl first, the Brave’s bowlers showed considerable discipline and held their nerve to limit the Originals to a total of 95/8. In reply, Laura Wolvaardt led the team with a calm knock, getting her team home with 11 balls to spare, although not without some tense moments.

Manchester Originals Women's Innings

Batting first, Manchester Originals never really got going on a tricky pitch. With the innings almost entirely held together by Seren Smale, who batted with calmness and control for her undefeated 40 off 34 balls, the Originals were not in a strong position with wickets tumbling around her. She fought a lonely battle to help Manchester post a fighting total. 

Lauren Bell was the star for the Brave with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 28 runs, including two big tickets in the powerplay. She was superbly supported by Mady Villiers (2/19) and Tilly Corteen Coleman (1/12), who kept the run rate in check while piling the pressure upon their opponents. 

Amelia Kerr (14) and Deandra Dottin (8) tried to get things moving, but no one could support Smale for long enough to make a difference. As such, Manchester ended on a below-par 95/8.

Southern Brave Women's Innings

Chasing 96 on paper looked easy for the Brave, but they were made to work. They lost wickets early and were put under pressure from a disciplined Originals bowling attack. Laura Wolvaardt showed why she is one of the most composed players in the game. Her unbeaten 42 from 37 balls, full of lovely strokes and intelligent placements, provided the necessary glue to the chase.

Danielle Wyatt provided early momentum with a wonderful 32 from 27, but after her dismissal, the Brave stumbled a few times. Wolvaardt remained calm and never let things become tense at the end as they brought it home in 89 balls, getting to 96/4.

Manchester's bowlers did all they could—Sophie Ecclestone, Danielle Gregory, Amelia Kerr, and Deandra Dottin each took a wicket, but with nothing on the board there is little margin for error.

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Match Scorecard Summary

Manchester Originals – 95/8 (100 balls)

Southern Brave – 96/4 (89 balls)

The Southern Brave Women defeated the Manchester Originals Women in Match 2 of The Hundred Women’s 2025 at Old Trafford. Restricting the Originals to just 93/8 in their 100 balls, the Brave went after the target easily and sealed the game with six wickets remaining. The match was characterized by disciplined bowling and a calm run-chase that left Manchester searching for answers. Here are the key reasons why Manchester Originals lost the game:

1. Poor Batting and No Partnerships

After losing early wickets, Manchester Originals were in deep trouble and could not hold up the momentum with key batters failing to make the most of the starts they got. Seren Smale tried hard and was the sole player who showed resistance. She top-scored with 40 off 34 balls but did not have support from the rest of the lineup. A series of quick dismissals meant the team could only post a below-par 95/8 in their 20 overs, thus going into the game at a big disadvantage.

2. Clinical and Varied Bowling by Southern Brave

From the start, Southern Brave’s bowlers kept up with relentless pressure; Lauren Bell took the lead by achieving the best figures of 3/28 in 4 overs. The bowling unit represented a mixture of pace and accuracy; Mady Villiers (2/19) and Tilly Corteen-Coleman (1/12) were two of the players who scored the most in taking wickets. Their continuous ability in taking wickets at the most advantageous moments kept Originals from finding a partnership.

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3. Steady Top-Order Execution Seals the Chase

The openers of Southern Brave threw a clever innings as they were pursued by a meager total, with Laura Wolvaardt anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 42 of 37. Danni Wyatt-Hodge (32 off 27) was the main support to Wolvaardt through their well-regulated attack plan, which never made Manchester’s bowlers have the appearance of being capable of defending the low total. The Brave’s batters were able to stage some crucial partnerships and therefore safely wrap up the run chase with nearly 3 overs to spare.