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Sophia Dunkley (left) recorded a career best score in The Hundred of 69 not out to help Welsh Fire record a seven-wicket victory over Manchester Originals at Old Trafford
Jonty Colman
BBC Sport journalist
England's Sophia Dunkley inspired Welsh Fire to a seven-wicket victory over Manchester Originals in their opening match of The Hundred women's competition at Old Trafford.
Batting first, the Originals got off to a strong start as overseas openers Laura Wolvaardt (37) and Beth Mooney put on a 58-run stand before South African Wolvaardt departed.
From there, the hosts collapsed from 58-0 to 86-6, with Mooney (19) the only other player of from the Originals' top six to score double figures.
Captain Sophie Ecclestone added some late inspiration with the bat, ending on 27 not out to help Originals post a score of 113-7.
Like their opponents, the Fire started their chase of 114 with a big stand - this one 65 runs between England duo Dunkley and Tammy Beaumont, ending when Beaumont holed out on 31.
After Beaumont departed, the Fire lost Hayley Matthews and Sarah Bryce cheaply, dropping from 65-0 to 73-3 in a 20-ball spell.
Dunkley (69*) was able to rebuild with Australia all-rounder Jess Jonassen (9*) and a unbeaten 44-run stand from the duo helped the Fire to victory with four balls to spare.
Sarah Bryce takes the catch to dismiss her sister Kathryn
What else do you need to know?
The Originals' only partnership above 10 after Wolvaardt and Mooney's 58-run opening stand came for the seventh-wicket between Ecclestone and Ellie Threlkeld, posting 27 off the final 15 balls of the innings.
Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce only managed to score six runs for the Originals. She was caught behind by Fire wicketkeeper Sarah Bryce, her sister.
The Originals' first innings score of 113-7 was their second lowest in the history of The Hundred women's competition when batting first. Their previous lowest was 107-5, coming in August 2023 against Trent Rockets at Trent Bridge.
England fast bowler Lauren Filer made her debut for the Originals against one of her former sides, the Fire. Filer spent last season with London Spirit.
While Filer did not take a wicket, her 20 balls conceded just 15 runs. Of her 20 balls, 15 were dots.
Dunkley's score of 69 with the bat was her highest in The Hundred, beating her previous best of 68 by one run. She also became the first player in The Hundred women’s competition to pass 750 runs.
'Dunkley showed her class' - what they said
Welsh Fire batter Sophia Dunkley: "I’m feeling really good we got the win. It got a little bit close at the end, so I was really chuffed we won.
"It's pretty good to kick off the [competition] with a close game like that and know we can get to the other side. It's just a great way to start."
Manchester Originals captain Sophie Ecclestone: "I think it's really hard to play with five bowlers but we have backed our bowlers today to get the job done. Looking back, it was a good wicket and I feel like in the middle phase of the game we just placed too many dots and we could have [scored] 10 or 15 more runs.
"We do look really strong as a unit but I guess we just didn't execute today and I feel like we'll back our bowlers again next game. We'll go again on Monday."
Welsh Fire captain Tammy Beaumont: "That shows how mature Sophia Dunkley has got in the last year or so in seeing us home when she lost the strike for a long period of time. She showed her class there at the end.
"If you lose the first couple of games, you're basically climbing an uphill battle. [It's] certainly important to start the momentum."
What is happening on Friday?
There will be another double-header on Friday this time at Headingley as Northern Superchargers host Trent Rockets (women's at 15:00 BST and men's at 18:30).
England all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt is set to feature for the Rockets.
You can follow ball-by-ball commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.
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