There are two Hundred double headers today – at 11AM this morning Birmingham Phoenix women took on Southern Braves women, with the equivalent men’s game currently in progress. Meanwhile the women’s game between Trent Rockets and Welsh Fire is approaching the halfway stage. This post looks back the early match.
THE PHOENIX INNINGS
Brave came into this match without a win so far this season. An up and down batting performance saw Phoenix reach 137-7 from their 100 balls. The highlight was a half century from Amy Jones. Emily Arlott with 22 off 12 balls near the end was the only other Phoenix player to top 20. Best bowler for the Brave was 16 year old left arm spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman with 2-22 from her 20 balls.
THE BRAVE REPLY
Smriti Mandhana made a racing start with the bat, and at 18-0 after 11 balls Brave seemed to be going well. Then came a truly bizarre passage of play, as three times in the space of seven balls Ellyse Perry had appeals for caught behind turned down on the field but given on review. The first one, to dismiss Mandhana was a slightly tricky one as there were two different noises, Mandhana’s bat hitting the ground, and then a teeny but later the ball hitting Mandhana’s bat. However both Maia Bouchier (0 off 2 balls) and Georgia Adams (2 off three balls) got big nicks, and in both cases the ball also deflected significantly after passing the bat). At 21-3 things looked bad for the Brave but then Danni Wyatt and Freya Kemp had a fine partnership, and at 89-3 Brave were looking in control. Charis Pavely then found the edge of Pavely’s bat, and for the fourth time Amy Jones took the catch. Three runs later came what proved the killer blow, Danni Wyatt going to catch by Fran Wilson off Hannah Baker for 43 to make it 92-5. Chloe Tryon and Naomi Dattani put on 21 together, but then Pavely struck twice in three balls, first trapping Tryon LBW and then finding the edge Rhianna Southby’s bat for Jones’ fifth catch of the innings. That was 113-7, and any slender hopes Brave might have had of this being their day would have finally vanished three runs later when Dattani edged Arlott to give Jones a sixth catch, making it 116-8. The two Laurens, Bell and Cheatle, cobbled together five runs for the ninth wicket before Cheatle was run out desperate going for a second to keep Bell on strike, and leg spinner Katie Levick then bowled Bell and Brave were all out for 121, beaten by 16 runs. Player of the Match was an easy decision in view of Jones’ half century and stellar work behind the stumps. Full scorecard here.
PHOTOGRAPHS
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