Orla Prendergast took 4-18 as Welsh Fire beat Manchester Super Giants by three wickets at Old Trafford in the Hundred women's competition. The Ireland international was playing only her second Hundred match after arriving as an injury replacement for Sophie Devine, and her spell helped restrict the hosts to 85-9 before Welsh Fire reached 88-7 with nine balls to spare.
How did Manchester Super Giants lose control?
They lost control almost immediately as Prendergast tore through the top order and reduced the Super Giants to 24-4. She bowled captain Meg Lanning for a golden duck, had Mady Villiers caught for five and then trapped Kathryn Bryce lbw for 4.
Heather Graham then added pressure by having Paige Scholfield stumped for 5. India's Smriti Mandhana made 15 before she was run out after being called through for a risky single, while Sophie Ecclestone made 9 before becoming Graham's second stumping victim.
Richa Ghosh was Prendergast's fourth wicket when she was caught in the covers for 11. Ryana MacDonald-Gay then top-scored from number nine with an unbeaten 18, helping her side reach 85-9 from their 100 balls.
How did Welsh Fire complete the chase?
They started steadily and had reached 27 before losing Sarah Bryce, who was caught and bowled by Bex Tyson for 16. Fellow opener Georgia Voll also made 16 before she skied a catch off Villiers.
Ecclestone then swung the match back by removing Freya Kemp for 6 and Prendergast with successive balls. She had her England team-mate clip to Lanning at short mid-on before bowling the Ireland all-rounder, and later had Georgia Wareham caught well by Lanning for 17 to finish with 3-14.
Heather Graham guided Fire to victory under pressure, losing two further partners but making an unbeaten 16, including the winning runs, as her team finished on 88-7. The result moved Welsh Fire above Leeds Sunrisers into fourth place and left them two points behind Super Giants, who remain third.
What else is happening in The Hundred?
London Spirit face MI London at Lord's on Thursday. In the women's competition, the visitors will be hoping to move off the bottom of the table against their sixth-placed opponents when they meet at 15:00 BST.
In the men's competition, MI's men will be seeking to continue their tilt at top spot, while seventh-placed Spirit will be hoping to revive their season. They meet at 18:30 BST.
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Key Facts
- Orla Prendergast took 4-18 in her second Hundred match for Welsh Fire.
- Manchester Super Giants were bowled out for 85-9 at Old Trafford.
- Welsh Fire won by three wickets, reaching 88-7 with nine balls to spare.
- Heather Graham made an unbeaten 16 and took 3-14 with the ball.
- The win moved Fire above Leeds Sunrisers into fourth place.
