In the 2024 edition of The Hundred Women's competition, Mady Villiers delivered an electrifying performance that captured the hearts of fans with a stunning catch. During the match between the Oval Invincibles and Trent Rockets on August 14 at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, Villiers showcased her extraordinary fielding abilities.
Opting to bowl first, the Invincibles set the stage for an impressive display of cricket. South African star Marizanne Kapp bowled a half-volley, and Bryony Smith, the opener for the Rockets, attempted to loft it over the leg side for what appeared to be a certain boundary. However, Villiers, representing the Invincibles, had other plans. She executed a full-stretch dive to her left, executing an astounding one-handed catch with her wrong hand, which made it all the more remarkable given it was on her non-dominant side.
This brilliant catch proved pivotal in unsettling the Rockets' batting line-up. The team struggled to regain their momentum and ultimately finished with a score of 91 runs for 8 wickets in their allotted 100 balls. Ash Gardner emerged as the standout performer for the Rockets, scoring an impressive 43 runs off 26 deliveries, featuring five fours and two sixes.
Kapp's performance with the ball was equally commendable, as she secured key wickets, including those of Smith, Grace Scrivens, and Natasha Wraith, finishing with standout figures of 3 wickets for just 8 runs in 20 balls. Rachel Slater and Sophia Smale contributed with two wickets each, while Villiers also played a crucial role by dismissing Gardner, which prevented the Rockets from building further momentum.
The Invincibles successfully chased down the target with six balls to spare. Although Villiers did not make a significant impact with the bat, getting out to Gardner, her earlier fielding heroics were key to the victory. With this win, the Invincibles secured a playoff position and are set to face the London Spirit in the Eliminator on Saturday, August 17, at Kennington Oval in London.
In the group stage, Welsh Fire topped the table with 11 points and a net run rate of +0.334, having achieved five wins from eight matches.