Cricket

Oval Invincibles, the two-time Hundred champions, kicked off the fourth season of the tournament with a dominant 45-run victory over Birmingham Phoenix. Paige Scholfield, batting at the top of the order in place of Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu, led the charge with a sparkling 71.Scholfield and England's Alice Capsey formed a formidable partnership, putting on 90 runs for the second wicket. Capsey contributed 52 runs, and the duo shared 17 boundaries. Their explosive batting threatened to set a new record in the Hundred women's competition.However, a flurry of late wickets slowed down the Invincibles' progress. Nevertheless, they set a challenging target of 150 runs for Birmingham Phoenix.The Phoenix's chase got off to a shaky start, losing three wickets with just 32 runs on the board. New Zealand captain Sophie Devine and Birmingham local Amy Jones offered some resistance, but the Invincibles' bowling attack proved too strong.Australian legspinner Amanda-Jade Wellington was the standout performer with the ball, taking three wickets for just nine runs. Her economical spell helped restrict the Phoenix to 105 runs, securing a comfortable 45-run victory for the Invincibles.Scholfield, named the Meerkat Match Hero, expressed her delight at her performance. She credited her success to the support of Lauren Winfield-Hill and her trust in her own abilities.The Invincibles' victory sets the tone for the upcoming Hundred season, showcasing the exciting and competitive nature of the tournament.

Ellyse Perry, the Australian all-rounder, will lead Birmingham Phoenix in the upcoming Women's Hundred season. Perry was initially set to captain the team last year but was ruled out due to injury.Perry's return to Edgbaston is a significant boost for Phoenix, who finished bottom of the table in 2023. The 33-year-old is a highly experienced and decorated player, having represented Australia in over 300 international matches.In the recent Women's Premier League (WPL), Perry was the leading run-scorer for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, amassing 347 runs at an average of 69.40. She also claimed seven wickets, showcasing her all-round abilities.Perry's leadership qualities have been evident in her role as captain of Sydney Sixers in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL). She became the first player to lead a team in 100 WBBL matches."I'm incredibly honored to be named Birmingham Phoenix captain," said Perry. "It's a wonderful club that means a lot to me. I'm looking forward to joining the whole playing squad and working towards a successful season."Meanwhile, defending champions Southern Brave have appointed Georgia Adams as their new captain following Anya Shrubsole's retirement. Adams, who led Southern Vipers to a domestic double last year, is excited to take on the role."It's a privilege to be taking over from Anya," said Adams. "I'm super excited to get going and really looking forward to leading a fantastic group of players and trying to defend the trophy."In the Men's Hundred, James Vince will continue to lead Southern Brave, having guided the team to victory in the inaugural season.