Rain wipes out both women's matches in Hundred on Saturday
Four out of the first seven women's games have been abandoned without a ball being bowled
ESPNcricinfo staff and ECB Reporters Network
05-Aug-2023
Persistent rain washed out the Phoenix-Rockets clash in Edgbaston • ECB/Getty Images
Rain wiped out both women's fixtures in the Hundred on Saturday without a ball being bowled, meaning four of the first seven women's games have been abandoned.
Manchester Originals and London Spirit, who suffered washouts against Welsh Fire and Oval Invincibles, respectively, in their opening fixtures, were unable to get on the field at Emirates Old Trafford on Saturday morning, with the game called off shortly after midday.
Birmingham Phoenix and Trent Rockets both lost their opening games - against Northern Superchargers and Southern Brave respectively - and their fixture at Edgbaston was called off shortly before 4.30pm on Saturday, after heavy rain in Birmingham.
"If we would have played two games and won one and lost one, we would be in the competition and at least we would have played," Stephen Parry, Originals' head coach, said. "The good news is that we've got two points - and that's the best start the Originals have ever had.
"It isn't the way we wanted to get the points but I'm really looking forward to seeing the girls go out there and show their skills, because they've been absolutely fantastic."
Parry said that Originals' preparation has been affected throughout the build-up to the Hundred: "We had a training session at Ramsbottom and that was rain-affected; the rain has been with us for two weeks. But the attitude and energy of the girls has been second to none and I'm really pleased how they've gone about their business."
Emma Whiteman, London Spirit's team manager, said: "We just want to play and it's hugely disappointing that this has happened again.
"We've always said we need to adapt to whatever conditions are presented, whether that is the opposition or the good old British weather, so we're training now and hopefully we'll get going together on Tuesday."
The weather also accounted for both of the scheduled fixtures in the men's 50-over domestic competition on Saturday. Middlesex versus Surrey was washed out at Radlett, while Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire took a point each from their fixture at Trent Bridge.