Nepali leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane returned home without playing a game in The Hundred. Lamichhane again fell foul to visa issues, having already missed out on a stint with Worcestershire. The leg-spinner was informed his visa was not valid despite having successfully arrived in the UK and having already served eight days of his mandatory quarantine. The Nepali star took to social media to voice his frustration.
Although Lamichhane could not play, there was some good news when London Spirit announced Brad Wheal as a late replacement for Mark Wood. The Scotland and Hampshire seamer joins up with Dutch allrounder Roelof van der Merwe in the Lords based squad.
Sarah Bryce was the first associate player in action in the competition, starring for Oval Invincibles in the opening match. Bryce kept wicket for the Invincibles, and was involved in the first wicket of the tournament, taking a catch to dismiss Emma Lamb off the bowling of Marizanne Kapp. The Scotland keeper followed by taking taking the first stumping of The Hundred to dismiss Sophie Ecclestone. She did not need to bat as the Oval side took a five-wicket win over the Manchester Originals.
Bryce would play again for the Invincibles again in Sunday’s fixture against the London Spirit. However, she was not require with the bat and would go without a dismissal as wicketkeeper in the Oval’s 15-run win over their London rivals.
Sarah’s sister Kathyrn also took to the field for Trent Rockets’ opening fixture against Southern Brave. The Scotland skipper produced an excellent piece of fielding to run out Sophia Dunkley. However, she was bowled for a duck off the last ball of the Rockets’ innings in their 23-run defeat.
Dutch seamer Fred Klaasen played for Manchester’s men’s team in their opening game. Signed as a wildcard pick in The Hundred draft, Klaasen was extremely effective, taking three key wickets. Klaasen trapped Sunil Narine LBW in the early stages, before dismissing Oval’s captain Sam Billings for 49. The seamer would finish his spell by bowling Nathan Sowter to end with three for 23 in 15 balls.
Klaasen would take one further wicket in Sunday’s fixture against Birmingham Pheonix, drawing Finn Allen’s edge, with Jos Buttler completing the catch. Klaasen bowled one for 15 from ten balls as Manchester bowled out Birmingham for 87 in a comfortable victory.
Elsewhere, Dutch allrounder Roelof van der Merwe got off to a steady start for London Spirit. Although he was unable to score off his solitary ball in the Spirit’s innings, he did claim the wicket of Birmingham Phoenix captain Moeen Ali. Van der Merwe finished with figure off 1/25 from 15 balls as Spirit lost in a close chase.
Bermuda’s Delray Rawlins was in action for Southern Brave, but could only manage seven from 7 balls with the bat. Rawlins did not bowl as Trent Rockets romped to victory in the two sides’ opening match.
Finally, Scotland spinner Abtaha Maqsood took to the field for Birmingham Phoenix. Although she only bowled five balls in her side’s opening fixture against London Spirit, she would take two wickets in the Phoenix’s win over Manchester Originals. First, she had Mignon du Preez stumped by Amy Jones, before bowling Ellie Threlkeld as Phoenix successfully defended 113. Maqsood finished with a miserly two for 14 from 20 balls.
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