It was Birmingham Phoenix who locked horns with Manchester Originals in game no 10 of the Hundred. Having lost the toss, Phoenix were put into bat first.
Skipper Eve Jones along with Sophie Devine opened the innings and were off to decent starts. The two hung around long enough to see off the new ball and also get runs on the board. They added a partnership of 39(38) and set a platform for the batters to follow. With the dismissal of Eve Jones for 18(20) wickets fell in quick succession as the well-set Devine also had a long walk back to the pavilion for 27(25).
There wasn’t much substance left in the innings as the middle and lower order crumbled down cheaply. Abigail Freeborn’s effort to stay afloat was crushed by Morris as she departed for 12(11). The spinners of the originals dismantled the batting lineup as skipper Sophie Ecclestone (4/11) and Fi Morris (5/7) mastered their lines and hit their areas to reduce the opponents to a mere total of 87.
The Originals began their batting with a hiccup as Emma Lamb had to depart on the very first ball of the innings to Flintoff. As low-scoring games are always instilled with tricky situations, it was critical for The South African superstar Wolvaardt and Campbell to stabilize the innings.
The two started carefully navigating the quicker bowlers and began churning out runs delicately. And were successful in pulling their side out from a state of bother to a state where they could comfortably win with a partnership of 69(66). But just at the threshold came another twist as both Wolvaardt 38(34) and Campbell 28(34) departed inside a span of ten deliveries.
Watch Video: Fi Morris takes 5 Wicket Haul
Balls – 1️⃣6️⃣ | Dots – 1️⃣1️⃣ | Runs – 7️⃣ | Wickets – 5️⃣
A sensational bowling performance from Fi Morris in @thehundred 🤯#SonySportsNetwork #TheHundred #FiMorris pic.twitter.com/SmquMFQCSj
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) August 8, 2023
And with chaos brewing up in the middle Morris succumbed to the pressure as she was sent back to the pavilion for a duck, and in the heat of the moment Hannah Baker’s excellent throw had Deandra Dottin short of her ground as she went for 6(12). The match eventually came down to the wire with 2 needed off the last 5 balls. Ecclestone and Kathryn Bryce held their nerves as they won the game with just one ball to spare.
A thrilling finish for Manchester Originals with just 1 ball remaining.
Fi Morris picked 5/7, Sophie Ecclestone grabbed 4/11.#CricketTwitter #TheHundred pic.twitter.com/tEUPC48TI7
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) August 7, 2023
Tess Flintoff (1/10), Katie Levick (2/12), and Hannah Baker (1/15) were among the wickets. It was yet another day in the office for the women where a low-scoring game was tightly fought between the two sides with crucial points on offer.
Fi Morris was adjudged the Player of the Match for her scintillating show of (5/7) with the ball.
5 Wickets, conceding just 7 Runs in 16 Balls 👏#ICYMI Fi Morris was an unstoppable force yesterday 🔥 #CricketTwitter #TheHundred pic.twitter.com/i8nv9Z6pg1
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) August 8, 2023