Orla Prendergast's maiden ton headlines Typhoons' win in round three of Super 50 Series

Already 2-0 up in the series, Scorchers skipper Gaby Lewis won the toss and invited Typhoons to bat first in cold and cloudy conditions. Typhoons lost a couple of early wickets in Louise Little and Rachel Delaney before Forbes and Prendergast combined to put on 125 runs for the third wicket.

After Forbes’ departure, courtesy of a brilliant throw from Lewis to the wicket-keeper’s end, Prendergast took charge and marched towards her maiden List-A ton. She took 82 balls to reach her half-century bur her next 50 came off just 40 balls. This was the fourth century in the history of the Super Series after Meg Kendal (125), Cecelia Joyce (118), and Clare Shillington (116).  She did not get much support from Typhoons' lower-middle order batters as they finished the innings on 259 for 8 from their fifty overs.

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For Scorchers, spinner Cara Murray was the pick of the bowlers, showing great control and use of flight to finish with figures of 9-0-36-2. Sophie MacMahon, Kate McEvoy, and Lara Maritz took one wicket apiece.

In response, Scorchers lost in-form Lewis in the second over for just seven. A tight opening spell by Prendergast, Jane Maguire, Ava Canning, and Zara Craig reduced Scorchers to 49 for 4 in the 15th over. Murray and MacMahon tried to steady the ship, but both fell to Delaney. After a brief rain delay, Murray (11) was adjudged LBW and the Scorchers were reeling at 88 for 6 in the 23rd over.

Maritz (78) and Jenny Sparrow (40) combined to form a 68-run partnership for the seventh wicket before Sparrow fell to a direct hit from Prendergast. At that stage, Scorchers needed 104 off 13 overs. Maritz and Ashlee King scored a few boundaries in the last ten overs including four back-to-back boundaries by the former off Maguire in the 44th over.

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Prendergast then returned to bowl and it took her only five balls to eliminate any chances of a Scorchers' win. She first bowled Martiz for a well-made 78 and McEvoy was dismissed first ball. Scorchers were eventually dismissed for 226 in the 47th over.

Brief Scores: Typhoons 259/8 in 50 overs (Orla Prendergast 116, Sarah Forbes 73; Cara Murray 2/36) beat Scorchers 226 in 46.5 overs (Lara Maritz 78, Jenny Sparrow 40; Rachel Delaney 3/40) by 33 runs. POTM: Orla Prendergast