To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
This video can not be played
-
1 hour ago
Davina Perrin hit a sublime record-breaking century as Northern Superchargers stormed into The Hundred final with a 42-run win over London Spirit in the women’s Eliminator.
The 18-year-old reached her century from 42 balls, the fastest in the women’s competition and second fastest in The Hundred overall – just a ball slower than Harry Brook in first.
It took an unfortunate run out at the non-striker’s end to dismiss Perrin for 101 from 43 balls as the Superchargers powered their way to an enormous 214-5 – the highest women’s total in the tournament’s history.
English batter Perrin dominated an opening stand of 105 with Alice Davison-Richards, scoring 81 to her partner’s 18 and monopolised the strike early on – much to the delight of The Kia Oval crowd.
In total the teenager smashed 15 fours and five sixes in a truly remarkable display of hitting.
Cameos from Australians Phoebe Litchfield, who made 35 from 19, and Nicola Carey, who ended unbeaten on 31 from 12, made sure this was a total that defending champions Spirit would not chase down.
Despite losing three early wickets, Spirit had no option but to stay on the offensive and a stand of 63 between Charli Knott and Cordelia Griffith briefly gave them hope on a superb pitch for batting.
But they fell just three balls apart and, although Georgia Redmayne made 50 not out from 30, Spirit finished well short on 172-9.
In total there were 386 runs and 63 boundaries scored – both records for a match in the women’s competition.
It is the Superchargers who advance to Lord’s, with unbeaten Southern Brave waiting for them in Sunday’s final.
Perrin announces herself with outrageous ton
To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
This video can not be played
Power, timing, precision – this knock had the lot.
Perrin, nine days short of her 19th birthday, is a player who has excited English fans for some time.
The Wolverhampton-born right-hander showed what she can do with an unbeaten 72 from 40 balls earlier in the tournament – but this was the day she truly announced herself.
A scorching drive through the covers got her going and when she effortlessly picked one ball up over and square leg, 10 rows back into the crowd, it was clear she was in fine touch.
Perrin has scored 13, 14, 10, four, three and five since that 72 but this was some return to form.
Her 42-ball hundred is the fastest by an English woman in T20s – which is how The Hundred is categorised when it comes to statistics – beating a 45-ball effort from Anya Shrubsole for Somerset against Wales in 2013.
Perrin is the first black British woman to hit a century in a professional T20.
It is also the joint second fastest women’s T20 hundred in a major league or full member T20 international.
Some effort for a teenager and, while there will be understandable calls for patience to allow Perrin time to develop, innings like this make it all the more difficult to keep a lid on the excitement.
What is happening on Sunday?
It’s Finals Day!
Lord’s plays host with Southern Brave are already safely through to the women’s final and will play Northern Superchargers from 14:15 BST.
Then from 18:00 BST, Oval Invincibles will be hoping to win their third title in a row in the men’s final. They’ll be up against either Trent Rockets or Northern Superchargers, who meet in the Eliminator on Saturday evening.
You will be able to watch both games lives on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
You can follow ball-by-ball commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.
