Laura Wolvaardt inspires Northern Superchargers to dramatic Hundred win at Headingley
- Planet Sport writer
- 21 August 2022
Laura Wolvaardt’s unbeaten 90 steered the Northern Superchargers to a seven-wicket victory over Manchester Originals with one ball to spare at Headingley.
Wolvaardt batted through the Superchargers' innings and faced 49 balls, hitting 13 fours and two sixes as the Leeds-based side overhauled the visitors' 160 for three to secure a victory that keeps their chances of making the knockout stages of the competition very much alive.
The Originals' hopes of making further progress hang by the slimmest of threads despite a display of clean hitting from Deandra Dottin.
But such an outcome seemed unlikely when Dottin hit five fours and six sixes, including three in a row off Linsey Smith, in her 30-ball 68 not out and shared in the 74-run partnership with Sophie Ecclestone that enabled the Originals to post a formidable score.
Speaking with Sky Sports after the match, Wolvaardt said: "I felt like I hit them well in the warm-up so I just needed to stay calm and play my game. When I saw we needed 50 off 20-something, I had a swing and it paid off.
"I feel like I haven't quite been timing it throughout the whole tournament. In the games before this I feel I tried to whack it way too hard and lost my shape early on.
"I knew I had a bit more time opening the batting. I knew I could pierce the gaps in the powerplay and I kept going with that until the end."
Superchargers skipper Hollie Armitage added: "We have all faith in Laura and the way she played was phenomenal.
"She looks to time the ball really well and it is really effective. She keeps the game really simple and I am extremely proud of her. The way she was striking it, I thought it was going to be her day. Luckily it was!"
