The Hundred blazes a trail as it launches with a women’s match
23 February 2021
The Hundred will make history in its opening fixture as it launches with a women’s match. The action-packed new 100-ball competition – designed to open cricket up to more families and young people - will start with Oval Invincibles hosting Manchester Originals at the Kia Oval on Wednesday 21 July before the same two men’s sides follow suit the following day.
It will be the first time a major UK team sporting event has launched men’s and women’s competitions alongside each other and headlined with a women’s match. The match will be televised live on Sky and BBC.
Newly announced Manchester Originals signing Sophie Ecclestone said: “The thought of making history and potentially bowling the first ball of The Hundred is really exciting. It is fantastic news that the competition is launching with a women’s match and we can’t wait to get The Hundred off to the best possible start.”
Beth Barrett-Wild, Head of The Hundred Women’s Competition, said: “Opening The Hundred with a standalone women’s match represents a historic moment, not just for cricket and women’s cricket, but more widely for sport. We are really proud to be able to make this announcement, and I cannot wait to see our brilliant female players walk out at the Kia Oval on 21 July. The schedule really epitomises how The Hundred is changing the game – putting gender-balance at its heart and presenting men and women on the same platform, with the same scale of ambition from the very start.”
The Hundred aims to make cricket more accessible to families and young people by fusing world-class, fast-paced cricket with family-friendly entertainment off the pitch. It features eight brand new teams based in Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Southampton and two in London.
The entire competition, including all men’s and women’s games will be broadcast live on Sky. The Hundred will also be covered extensively across the BBC, including live television coverage of 10 men’s games and up to eight live women’s matches, including The Hundred Final and the women’s opening game.
After the opening two matches, the rest of the schedule will see the men’s and women’s teams both playing on the same day, at the same venue, with the ambition to elevate women’s cricket through The Hundred. Tickets are incredibly good value for money and give fans the chance to see a women’s and a men’s game, plus added entertainment throughout.
The teams finishing second and third in the league stage will meet each other at the Kia Oval in The Hundred Eliminator on Friday 20 August to compete for a place in The Hundred Final against the league winners. Both the men’s and women’s finals will take place the following day on 21 August at Lord’s.
Full list of Welsh Fire fixtures:
July 24th: Northern Superchargers v Welsh Fire, Emerald Headingley
July 27th: Welsh Fire v Southern Brave, Sophia Gardens
July 31st: Welsh Fire v Manchester Originals, Sophia Gardens
August 2nd: Oval Invincibles v Welsh Fire, Kia Oval
August 6th: Welsh Fire v Trent Rockets, Sophia Gardens
August 9th: Birmingham Phoenix v Welsh Fire, Edgbaston
August 18th: Welsh Fire v London Spirit, Sophia Gardens
August 20th: Women's and Men's Eliminator, Kia Oval
August 21st: Men's and Women's Finals, Lord’s
Manchester Originals star Jos Buttler said: "It is brilliant that we'll be involved in the opening two games of The Hundred and that the competition is kicking off with a women's game. The rest of our squad will be announced today and I’m sure both ourselves and Oval Invincibles will take to the field with sides full of quality come the opening fixtures.”
Tickets for The Hundred will go on sale to those signed up at thehundred.com through a priority window on 7 April, with general sale beginning on 21 April. Affordability for families has been prioritised with tickets for U16s at £5 and adult tickets starting at £10 for two games (women’s and men’s match) while kids U5 go free. Refund policies will be in place if matches are impacted by Covid.
Visit thehundred.com to find out more and to sign up for priority ticket access.
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