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Oval Invincibles batter Paige Scholfield played for Southern Brave in 2022 and 2023
Timothy Abraham
BBC Sport journalist
Paige Scholfield whacked 71 as Oval Invincibles cruised to a 46-run win over a lacklustre Birmingham Phoenix in the opening match of The Hundred women's competition.
Scholfield's knock off 40 balls was her maiden half-century in the competition and featured 12 sixes as she and Alice Capsey (52) shared a 90-run stand for the second wicket.
Emily Arlott finished the pick of the Phoenix bowlers as she claimed 2-19 but the Invincibles' total of 150-5 put them in a commanding position.
Phoenix, who did not win a single match in last year's tournament, had never successfully chased more than 128 in The Hundred.
An 11th consecutive defeat for Phoenix felt inevitable when star overseas trio Suzie Bates (6), Ellyse Perry (0) and Sophie Devine (13) failed to make an impact.
Wicketkeeper Amy Jones briefly showed some fight wit 21 but fine bowling from spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington (3-9) and some disciplined fielding saw Phoenix capitulate.
What else do you need to know?
Phoenix were awarded five penalty runs by the umpires for dangerous play after Marizanne Kapp collected the ball off her own bowling and hit Suzie Bates with a shy at the stumps.
Australia all-rounder Perry was run out for a duck by Capsey after being sent back by Phoenix team-mate Sterre Kalis.
Capsey was dropped twice in successive balls by Arlott and Issy Wong on 32 as Phoenix produced a sloppy performance in the field.
'I trusted my shots' - what they said
Player of the match Paige Scholfield of Oval Invincibles: "I was pretty nervous but once I got a feel for the pitch I just went for it. Playing in a competition like this with the quality there is it's nice to get a score. I trusted my shots."
Birmingham Phoenix captain Ellyse Perry: "It was a tough game for us. We were a bit loose in the field and obviously with the bat we didn't get a partnership - the key to any good chase - which put us on the back foot."
What is happening on Wednesday?
Another women's and men's double header in The Hundred on Wednesday as Southern Brave face London Spirit at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton.
There will be ball-by-ball commentary on BBC Radio 5 Extra from 14:45 (BST) and via BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website.
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