Chasing 143 to win against Sunrisers Leeds, the Manchester Super Giants enjoyed a positive start with openers Meg Lanning (24) and Mandhana putting on a 41-run stand.
They lost their way thereafter though and slipped from 61/1 to 71/5 in the space of 14 deliveries.
With 44 runs needed from 25 balls, Mandhana, having just reached fifty, lifted the tempo by lifting Deepti Sharma over long-on.
She was then dropped by Darcy Carter: the ball bursting through the fielder’s hands and trickling to the ropes.
Sutherland shared a 49-run stand with Lauren Winfield-Hill before a powerful finish materialised through skipper Danielle Gibson’s six-ball 18.
Mandhana headlined the chase with her first fifty of this Hundred © ECB
Mandhana headlined the chase with her first fifty of this Hundred © ECB
A remarkable lone effort from Smriti Mandhana (88*) saw her strike two sixes to seal victory in a tense run-chase in the Women's Hundred.
Chasing 143 to win against Sunrisers Leeds, the Manchester Super Giants enjoyed a positive start with openers Meg Lanning (24) and Mandhana putting on a 41-run stand. They lost their way thereafter though and slipped from 61/1 to 71/5 in the space of 14 deliveries.
Mandhana, however, remained poised under pressure and dominated the scoring during crucial partnerships worth 27 with Grace Scrivens and 48 with Kathryn Bryce. The Sunrisers squandered two opportunities to dismiss Mandhana and she made them pay for the two dropped catches, registering her highest score of the competition.
With 44 runs needed from 25 balls, Mandhana, having just reached fifty, lifted the tempo by lifting Deepti Sharma over long-on. She was then dropped by Darcy Carter: the ball bursting through the fielder’s hands and trickling to the ropes. Eight runs were needed off six balls when Mandhana first lofted Jess Jonassen over long-off and then hit Annabel Sutherland straight back down to cap a memorable knock.
Earlier, the Sunrisers made a modest start after being asked to bat first. After opener Bryony Smith’s 26, the impetus came through Phoebe Litchfield (31) and Sutherland (35). Sutherland shared a 49-run stand with Lauren Winfield-Hill before a powerful finish materialised through skipper Danielle Gibson’s six-ball 18.
“It feels great to win the match. I got a little lucky with the dropped chance, but nevertheless I was able to get the job done," Player of the Match Mandhana later said. "We discussed that the wicket had a bit of ‘hold’ in it, it wasn’t a typical Headingley wicket, and I didn’t start the way I would have loved to, but we ended nicely.
“In franchise cricket you’re going to have good days and bad days, the turnover is quick, but if you win matches like these, then it puts you in a good place.”
