The 18th match of the Hundred will be played between Birmingham Phoenix and Oval Invincibles on August 4 at Edgbaston in Birmingham. While the Phoenix have managed to win just one out of their four matches, Invincibles have emerged victorious on two out of the four instances. However, the Invincibles have lost their last two games. Both the teams will be eager to get back the momentum. Will the Phoenix be able to break their two-defeat streak or will the Invincibles be able to break theirs? Tune in to find out….
Squads
Birmingham Phoenix: Shafali Verma, Evelyn Jones, Amy Ellen Jones (c & wk), Katie Mack, Erin Burns, Georgia Elwiss, Emily Arlott, Gwenan Davies, Isabelle Wong, Kirstie Gordon, Abtaha Maqsood, Thea Brookes, Marie Kelly, Ria Fackrell, Phoebe Franklin
Oval Invincibles: Georgia Adams, Alice Capsey, Sarah Bryce (wk), Fran Wilson, Dane van Niekerk (c), Mady Villiers, Natasha Farrant, Grace Gibbs, Joanne Gardner, Eva Gray, Danielle Gregory, Marizanne Kapp, Shabnim Ismail, Rhianna Southby, Megan Belt
Players to watch out for
Amy Jones (Birmingham Phoenix):
The captain of the Phoenix is the leading run-getter for her team, having scored 107 runs in four matches, including the best of 42 not out. She has a strike rate of 164.61. Behind the stumps, she has been good, accounting for four dismissals in as many innings.
Kirstie Gordon (Birmingham Phoenix):
The right-arm pacer is the most successful bowler for the Phoenix, having scalped five wickets in four games, including the best of 3-14. She has been disciplined in her lines and lengths, making it difficult for the batters to score off her.
Dane van Niekerk (Oval Invincibles):
The skipper is leading from the front having top-scored for her team with 120 runs, including the best of 56 not out. She has a strike rate of 105.26 across the four matches that she has played so far. With the ball, the leg spinner has been effective as she has picked up four wickets in as many games.
Alice Capsey (Oval Invincibles):
She has had a wonderful tournament so far as she has contributed with both bat and ball. The 16-year old has scored 85 runs, including a half-century at the Lord’s. The right-arm quick has also accounted for three wickets in two innings, including the best of 2-9.
Weather conditions
It is a 3.30 pm (local) start at Edgbaston in Birmingham. The weather looks good throughout the course of the match. There is almost no chance of rain as the weather forecasts show a low chance of precipitation. The average temperature is around 21 degrees Celsius, with light winds blowing from the south.
Pitch
This will be the third match of the tournament at the venue. The average score so far has been 135, the average 1st innings score has been 137 and the average 2nd innings score has been 133. It is a good cricketing wicket as it has something for both batters and bowlers. In the last couple of games that were played here, the speedsters had an upper hand as they picked 18 wickets to 6 wickets scalped by the spinners.
Fantasy playing XI
Amy Jones, Alice Capsey, Evelyn Jones, Katie Mack, Dane van Niekerk, Grace Gibbs, Georgia Elwiss, Emily Arlott, Tash Farrant, Mady Villiers, Kirstie Gordon
Date: August 4, 2021
Time: 8 pm IST
Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham
Live streaming: Fan Code
I am a former cricketer having represented Mumbai University at All India University level. I was a part of MCA probables for the U-19 and U-23 age group. I have been an avid cricket writer for the last five years. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D from IIT Bombay.