Press start: Trying to get my girls interested in cricket tonight with yet another format. Wish me luck.
Meet the Manchester Originals
The Originals have one of the world's best bowlers in England spinner Sophie Ecclestone, while South Africa's Lizelle Lee is an explosive batter who can smash the ball to all parts of the ground.
You can find out more about Originals in this guide.
The Hundred/GettyCopyright: The Hundred/Getty
Can Sophie Ecclestone spin Originals to glory? Will South Africa opener Lizelle Lee live up to her reputation?Image caption: Can Sophie Ecclestone spin Originals to glory? Will South Africa opener Lizelle Lee live up to her reputation?
Post update
That's the spirit, Amy!
Right, let's find out more about the two teams...
Get Involved
#bbccricket
Amy Crow: Had a bit of a downer on the The Hundred when first announced, but I'm actually a bit stupidly excited for the start of it tonight.
BreakingManchester Originals will bat first
We are just under 15 minutes away from the first ever Hundred game. Excited?
The captains have taken part in the coin toss and it's Originals' skipper Kate Cross who has called it correctly.
Originals have decided to bat first.
Post update
There are some flats and houses overlooking The Oval ground - the owners must be slightly worried that a batter could launch the ball through a window?
Get Involved
#bbccricket
Gilly Clarke: Tailenders on TV is something I could fully get on board with.
Post update
Former England captain Michael Vaughan is wearing a white t-shirt and a salmon coloured suit jacket with a pocket square.
As he talks to the camera, Ex-England cricketer Phil Tufnell is doing a proper dad dance in the background.
I'm loving this already.
Post update
Heather Knight
England captain on BBC Radio 5 Live
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Lauren Winfield-Hill joins children in Bradford to host a taster sessionImage caption: Lauren Winfield-Hill joins children in Bradford to host a taster session
I think the fact that we’ve got The Hundred, T20 Blast, One
Day Cup and Test cricket shows it can be a game for any person no matter which
one you’re interested in.
I’ve noticed a lot of young fans here already. Even
just seeing things like billboards with male and female players, it’s brilliant
to see and makes such a big difference for any young girl or boy turning on
their TV tonight and seeing cricket is for everyone.
Post update
Pah, who needs Ibiza? I just did a quick check and can confirm that it's actually hotter in London right now.
Post update
Matthew Henry
BBC Sport at The Oval
Ali Mitchell described it as an Ibiza vibe earlier and she’s absolutely right - without the drunken partying. The sun is shining and we’re hearing chilled out dance music rather than the usual tunes.
'Young girls can see it and one day be it'
The HundredCopyright: The Hundred
Leading the Manchester Originals side today is captain and England bowler Kate Cross.
"It's pretty special that it's the women's competition kicking it all off," she said in a BBC Sport column.
"Imagine a young family flicking through the channels and seeing elite women's domestic sport live on their televisions - and Becky Hill! [British singer-songwriter Hill will be performing shortly.]
"We always say if you can't see it, you can't be it - and for a whole generation of girls now there's a cricket competition on the television where you can be it.
Not going to lie, I couldn't help but bop my head to that tune by singer Nayana IZ in the opening credits on BBC Two.
Post update
Matthew Henry
BBC Sport at The Oval
This is a thoroughly unscientific take - we should get official numbers later - but I’ve just walked around the ground and there seem to be far more kids, young girls in particular, here than you’d see at your average men’s international or Blast game.
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Post update
Our coverage on BBC Two is starting now!
Post update
You can also expect to see a different side to cricketers with The Hundred encouraging players to show off their personalities.
Which England batter insists he is not Ed Sheeran? Who refuses to dance? Watch this video and you'll find out...
Video content
Video caption: Ed Sheeran, peas & archaeology - find out more about The Hundred starsEd Sheeran, peas & archaeology - find out more about The Hundred stars
Post update
Matthew Henry
BBC Sport at The Oval
This is the stage which has been built in the stand especially for The Hundred. Singer/songwriter Becky Hill will be performing later. There’s also a resident DJ and the stage is where the toss will take place.
The immediate difference I notice here tonight is the sound – there is a
sounds stage with a DJ at every single game. I’m really feeling the Ibiza
vibes!
The fact that this tournament is kicking off with a
standalone women’s match is making a statement about what it can offer in terms
of gender parity in sport. The prize money is equal - we know there is a way
to go in terms of pay and salary but the way this tournament has been projected
has been about putting men and women on an equal platform.
It’s been projected there could be 10-12,000 in tonight - some of those are giveaways, but if there is a crowd of that many for a
domestic women’s game, that will obliterate, I think, the record for a crowd
for a women’s domestic game in this country.
Bringing music to your ears
The Hundred is more than just cricket - the tournament will be the biggest sport and music collaboration ever seen in the United Kingdom.
Singer Becky Hill, rapper Lady Leshurr, Manchester-based band Everything Everything, singer-songwriter Jack Garratt and musician Jake Bugg are just some of the big names signed up to perform at the grounds.
There will be live music at all 68 games in the competition coming from the resident Hundred DJs, who are also part of BBC Music's Introducing scheme.
Jax Jones, the Ivor Novello, BRIT and Grammy-nominated DJ, will then perform live at the final at Lord's on 21 August.
Live Reporting
Ffion Wynne and Kal Sajad
All times stated are UK
Get Involved
#bbccricket
Press start: Trying to get my girls interested in cricket tonight with yet another format. Wish me luck.
Meet the Manchester Originals
The Originals have one of the world's best bowlers in England spinner Sophie Ecclestone, while South Africa's Lizelle Lee is an explosive batter who can smash the ball to all parts of the ground.
You can find out more about Originals in this guide.
Post update
That's the spirit, Amy!
Right, let's find out more about the two teams...
Get Involved
#bbccricket
Amy Crow: Had a bit of a downer on the The Hundred when first announced, but I'm actually a bit stupidly excited for the start of it tonight.
BreakingManchester Originals will bat first
We are just under 15 minutes away from the first ever Hundred game. Excited?
The captains have taken part in the coin toss and it's Originals' skipper Kate Cross who has called it correctly.
Originals have decided to bat first.
Post update
There are some flats and houses overlooking The Oval ground - the owners must be slightly worried that a batter could launch the ball through a window?
Get Involved
#bbccricket
Gilly Clarke: Tailenders on TV is something I could fully get on board with.
Post update
Former England captain Michael Vaughan is wearing a white t-shirt and a salmon coloured suit jacket with a pocket square.
As he talks to the camera, Ex-England cricketer Phil Tufnell is doing a proper dad dance in the background.
I'm loving this already.
Post update
Heather Knight
England captain on BBC Radio 5 Live
I think the fact that we’ve got The Hundred, T20 Blast, One Day Cup and Test cricket shows it can be a game for any person no matter which one you’re interested in.
I’ve noticed a lot of young fans here already. Even just seeing things like billboards with male and female players, it’s brilliant to see and makes such a big difference for any young girl or boy turning on their TV tonight and seeing cricket is for everyone.
Post update
Pah, who needs Ibiza? I just did a quick check and can confirm that it's actually hotter in London right now.
Post update
Matthew Henry
BBC Sport at The Oval
Ali Mitchell described it as an Ibiza vibe earlier and she’s absolutely right - without the drunken partying. The sun is shining and we’re hearing chilled out dance music rather than the usual tunes.
'Young girls can see it and one day be it'
Leading the Manchester Originals side today is captain and England bowler Kate Cross.
"It's pretty special that it's the women's competition kicking it all off," she said in a BBC Sport column.
"Imagine a young family flicking through the channels and seeing elite women's domestic sport live on their televisions - and Becky Hill! [British singer-songwriter Hill will be performing shortly.]
"We always say if you can't see it, you can't be it - and for a whole generation of girls now there's a cricket competition on the television where you can be it.
You can read more from Cross here.
Post update
Not going to lie, I couldn't help but bop my head to that tune by singer Nayana IZ in the opening credits on BBC Two.
Post update
Matthew Henry
BBC Sport at The Oval
This is a thoroughly unscientific take - we should get official numbers later - but I’ve just walked around the ground and there seem to be far more kids, young girls in particular, here than you’d see at your average men’s international or Blast game.
Post update
Our coverage on BBC Two is starting now!
Post update
You can also expect to see a different side to cricketers with The Hundred encouraging players to show off their personalities.
Which England batter insists he is not Ed Sheeran? Who refuses to dance? Watch this video and you'll find out...
Video content
Post update
Matthew Henry
BBC Sport at The Oval
This is the stage which has been built in the stand especially for The Hundred. Singer/songwriter Becky Hill will be performing later. There’s also a resident DJ and the stage is where the toss will take place.
Post update
Post update
Alison Mitchell
Commentator on BBC Two
The immediate difference I notice here tonight is the sound – there is a sounds stage with a DJ at every single game. I’m really feeling the Ibiza vibes!
The fact that this tournament is kicking off with a standalone women’s match is making a statement about what it can offer in terms of gender parity in sport. The prize money is equal - we know there is a way to go in terms of pay and salary but the way this tournament has been projected has been about putting men and women on an equal platform.
It’s been projected there could be 10-12,000 in tonight - some of those are giveaways, but if there is a crowd of that many for a domestic women’s game, that will obliterate, I think, the record for a crowd for a women’s domestic game in this country.
Bringing music to your ears
The Hundred is more than just cricket - the tournament will be the biggest sport and music collaboration ever seen in the United Kingdom.
Singer Becky Hill, rapper Lady Leshurr, Manchester-based band Everything Everything, singer-songwriter Jack Garratt and musician Jake Bugg are just some of the big names signed up to perform at the grounds.
There will be live music at all 68 games in the competition coming from the resident Hundred DJs, who are also part of BBC Music's Introducing scheme.
Jax Jones, the Ivor Novello, BRIT and Grammy-nominated DJ, will then perform live at the final at Lord's on 21 August.