Oval Invincibles Women are 4/1 to claim a third straight title in The Hundred, having beaten Southern Brave in the finals of 2021 and 2022, but their rivals will be confident of challenging the favourites this summer.

James Milton's The Hundred Women Tips

Manchester Originals To Win The Hundred Women @ 13/2
Phoebe Litchfield Top Batter @ 9/1
Welsh Fire To Finish Bottom @ 7/2

Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation.

Setting the scene…..

It has already been a fabulous summer of women's cricket after England battled back to claim a thrilling 8-8 draw in the Ashes series against Australia.

Plenty of big names from that series will be involved in The Hundred, along with international stars from South Africa, India, New Zealand and the West Indies, and Oval Invincibles are aiming to extend their perfect record to three triumphs in three seasons of the competition.

However, improvement is expected from several of their rivals including Trent Rockets, Heather Knight's London Spirit, and Manchester Originals.  

Manchester Originals To Win The Hundred Women @ 13/2

Manchester Originals have finished fifth and sixth in the first two seasons of The Hundred but they are capable of much better this summer, having signed the tournament's top runscorer and wicket-taker from 2022.

South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt amassed 286 runs in just six innings for Northern Superchargers and was also the leading runscorer at this year's T20 World Cup, while Amanda-Jade Wellington took 17 wickets for Southern Brave, six more than any other bowler in 2022.

Wellington and Originals captain Sophie Ecclestone make up a formidable spin-bowling attack and they should get assistance from the pitches at Old Trafford, while West Indies batter Deandra Dottin crunched 147 runs off just 81 balls for the Manchester side last season.

James Milton's Tip:

There is a lot to like about Manchester Originals' squad, with Dottin, Wolvaardt, Wellington and Ecclestone all world-class talents and Emma Lamb a dangerous player at the top of the order.

They never got going in the 2021 and 2022 campaigns but have the potential to exceed expectations at odds of 13/2 this summer.

Phoebe Litchfield Top Batter @ 9/1

Australia greats Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry have been forced to withdraw from The Hundred due to injury this season, but one of the Aussies' brightest young stars will be lining up for the Northern Superchargers as Healy's replacement.

Opener Phoebe Litchfield has already had a memorable year, scoring 78 not out and 67 not out in her first two ODIs against Pakistan in January before making her Test debut against England in June.

The 20-year-old is a serious talent, as she demonstrated last week when scoring a maiden international century in the ODI win against Ireland, and she could have a big impact at Headingley.  

James Milton's Tip:

It takes a special player to break into the Australia team as a teenager and Phoebe Litchfield is ready to shine in her maiden campaign for the Superchargers.

The left-hander warmed up for The Hundred with an unbeaten 106 against Ireland and, having had a couple of months to get used to conditions in the northern hemisphere, she looks a decent each-way bet at 9/1 to be Top Batter in the tournament. 

Welsh Fire To Finish Bottom @ 7/2

While Oval Invincibles are chasing a third-straight title, Welsh Fire could be set for a less glorious hat-trick, having finished bottom of the table in 2021 and 2022.

The Cardiff-based franchise lost six of their eight matches in the inaugural season of The Hundred and suffered five defeats in six games last summer.

West Indies captain Hayley Matthews, who scored 109 runs in just three innings for the Fire last season, is part of a useful top order alongside England's Tammy Beaumont and Sophia Dunkley. 

However, serious doubts remain over the bowling attack, despite the arrival of South Africa international Shabnim Ismail, and another wooden spoon could be on the cards. 

James Milton's Tip:

Welsh Fire struggled last season even with Australia's Rachael Haynes and Annabel Sutherland in their squad and veteran spinner Claire Nicholas was their leading wicket-taker with just six scalps in six games.

Their last two defeats in 2022 were eight-wicket routs by London Spirit and Trent Rockets and they may well find themselves outclassed again.

James Milton's The Hundred Women Tips

Manchester Originals To Win The Hundred Women @ 13/2
Phoebe Litchfield Top Batter @ 9/1
Welsh Fire To Finish Bottom @ 7/2

Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation.