Skipper Ellyse Perry, Emily Arlott, and Katie Levick show up with the ball after Sterre Kalis shines with a half-century as Birmingham Phoenix clinch a nervy win to keep their playoffs hopes alive
Trent Rockets led by skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt defeated the Southern Brave led by skipper Georgia Adams at The Rose Bowl, Southampton by 24 runs in the 24th match of the season. Welsh Fire led by skipper Tammy Beaumont were all set to face Birmingham Phoenix led by skipper Ellyse Perry at the Sophia Gardens, Cardiff in the 25th match of the season.
Welsh Fire skipper Tammy Beaumont won the toss and opted to field first at the Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. After being inserted to bat first, the Birmingham Phoenix openers Sterre Kalis and Sophie Devine got their side off to a cautious start with a 53-run opening partnership. Hayley Matthews picked up the wicket of Sophie Devine to provide the first breakthrough for Welsh Fire. She was looking in ominous touch before getting dismissed.
Birmingham Phoenix lost a couple of wickets in quick succession to bring Welsh Fire firmly back into the contest after a solid start. Richa Ghosh joined opening batter Sterre Kalis at the crease and the duo stitched a 20-run partnership for the 4th wicket to take their side close to the 100-run mark. Richa Ghosh had her share of luck against Hayley Matthews after being given out thrice only to get the decision overturned upon referral in her spell.
However, the all-rounder from the Caribbean had the last laugh as she eventually managed to send Richa Ghosh back to the pavilion to provide the 4th breakthrough for her side. Emily Arlott joined Sterre Kalis at the crease and the duo stitched another crucial 22-run partnership for the 5th wicket to take their side past the 100-run mark. Jess Jonassen cleaned up the opening batter Sterre Kalis to provide the much-needed breakthrough for Welsh Fire.
She departed after scoring a well-compiled half-century. Birmingham Phoenix eventually ended up with a total of 121/7 in their quota of 100 deliveries. Sterre Kalis (55 off 44 balls), Sophie Devine (24 off 20 balls), Emily Arlott (17 off 13 balls), and Richa Ghosh (12 off 14 balls) were the top performers with the bat for Birmingham Phoenix. Hayley Matthews (20-9-32-3), Freya Davies (20-9-17-2), Jess Jonassen (20-5-27-1), Shabnim Ismail (20-8-16-0) and Georgia Davis (10-3-17-1) were the top performers with the ball for Welsh Fire.
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Chasing a target of 122, the Welsh Fire openers Sophia Dunkley and skipper Tammy Beaumont got their side off to a steady start with a 12-run opening partnership. Charis Pavely picked up the big wicket of the opposition skipper Tammy Beaumont to provide the first breakthrough for Birmingham Phoenix. Hayley Matthews joined Sophia Dunkley at the crease and the duo stitched a much-needed 30-run partnership for the 2nd wicket to take their side closer to the 50-run mark.
Skipper Ellyse Perry struck twice to remove Sophia Dunkley and Sarah Bryce in quick succession to bring her side back into the contest. Jess Jonassen joined Hayley Matthews at the crease and the duo stitched a much-needed 46-run partnership for the 4th wicket to take their side close to the 100-run mark. Hannah Baker picked up the wicket of Jess Jonassen to provide the much-needed 4th breakthrough for Birmingham Phoenix.
Georgia Elwiss joined Hayley Matthews at the crease and the duo stitched another crucial 18-run partnership for the 5th wicket to take their side past the 100-run mark. Katie Levick picked up the wicket of Georgia Elwiss to provide the 5th breakthrough for her side. Welsh Fire were eventually restricted to 112/8 in their quota of 100 deliveries, falling short of the target by nine runs.
Hayley Matthews (35 off 38 balls), Jess Jonassen (28 off 22 balls), Sophia Dunkley (18 off 18 balls), and Georgia Elwiss (10 off 6 balls) were the top performers with the bat for Welsh Fire. Skipper Ellyse Perry (20-17-9-2), Katie Levick (20-8-21-2), Emily Arlott (20-8-26-2), Hannah Baker (15-6-21-1), and Charis Pavely (20-6-28-1) were the top performers with the ball for Birmingham Phoenix.
Sterre Kalis was awarded the Player of the Match for her vital half-century (55 off 44 balls) with the bat. Her contribution played a crucial role in helping her side post a competitive total on the board and eventually the bowlers responded well to clinch a nervy win. Birmingham Phoenix manage to keep their campaign alive with that victory in the ongoing 4th edition of the Women’s Hundred.