‘Trent Rockets Women’ v ‘Birmingham Phoenix’, at Trent Bridge on 13 August
Receiving the ‘Match Hero’ cap-and-medal, Australian Erin Burns made top-score of the day (38 runs from 26 balls) during a defiant run-chase – partnered by Emily Arlott. ‘Phoenix’ found themselves back-in-the-game, needing just 7 runs from 12 balls. Despite a ‘last ditch’ fight-back by the tournament’s leading wicket-taker Sammy-Jo Johnson, Erin Burns told Nasser Hussain she knew she had a ‘little bit to do’ (to win the match.) Previously when bowling, Burns had taken Johnson’s wicket
The Hundred’s’ 27th match was broadcast live (commentators included Nasser Hussain, Andrew Flintoff, Darren Gough, and guest Kate Cross) from SKY Sports TV; also cricket social media (Valkerie Baynes for EPSN-cric-info.) Before the match, commentators mentioned that ‘Rockets’ had the best chance of reaching the top-team eliminator, needing just two wins. ‘Phoenix’ had to win, to keep any chance alive. ‘Phoenix’s’ win was later said to cause ‘a huge upset’ as ‘Rockets’ lack points needed to qualify for the eliminator
*‘Rockets’ (power-play 39/1) made a faster getaway than ‘Phoenix’ (29/1) Thereafter, both sides having lost their ‘big guns’ before the mid-way point (‘Rockets’ 61/3 vs ‘Phoenix 60/5) Scores were level-pegging for most of the match
*’Phoenix’ bowler Kirsty Gordon took 3 ‘Rockets’ wickets, clean-bowing both Katherine Brunt and Abigail Freeborn. Gordon also broke the ’50 partnership from 36 balls’ between Heather Graham and Abigail Freeborn, that restored what commentators described for ‘Rockets’ as ‘an average score’ (125)
* Kirsty Gordon finished at the top of the bowler’s table with 12 wickets (equalling Sammy-Jo Johnson’s record) Commentators added humorously that Kate Cross (as their guest presenter) had been overtaken as Sammy-Jo Johnson went on to take another 3 wickets (during ‘Phoenix’ innings – see below)
*Between innings, Nasser Hussain spoke to Heather Graham who’d been ‘Match Hero’ when ‘Rockets’ narrowly won the first ‘Midland Derby.’ Graham spoke about the importance of her partnership with Abigail Freeborn
*Commentators turned their attention to the ‘box office battle’ between Katherine Brunt and Shafali Verma, as ‘Phoenix’ batters got underway. That reached its climax when Shafali Verma was caught by Heather Graham from Katherine Brunt’s bowling
*Once the left-and-right-handed Joneses (Eve and skipper Amy) went cheaply, commentators were fearful that a procession of ‘Phoenix’ wickets would fall and ‘Rockets’ front-line bowlers ‘were going to skittle them’
*Building a match-winning partnership of 48 runs for ‘Phoenix’ 7th wicket, Emily Arlott (22*from 14) and Erin Burns (38 from 26) nudged ahead after 75 balls (96/6 vs 89/4) needing 30 runs from 25 balls remaining
*’Phoenix needed 6 to win when Erin Burns was caught off Sammy-Jo Johnson – once again becoming the tournament’s leading wicket-taker (with a tally of 15 wickets)
*Separately Johnson was also said to be the leading wicket-taker in Australia’s ‘Big Bash League’
*Continuing to bowl the penultimate over, Sammy-Jo Johnson dropped a return catch from Emily Arlott. Arlott finished with two ‘fours’: to level the scores before causing an undeniable ‘huge upset’ as ‘Phoenix’ won
*’Commentators’ curse’ (predicting the wrong outcome) struck again!
Result: ‘Birmingham Phoenix -W’ 129/7 beat ‘Trent Rockets -W’ 125/7 by 3 wickets with 6 balls remaining
‘Trent Rockets W’ (TR-W) 125-7 (20 ov. 1.25 runs-per-ball); Abigail Freeborn 30 runs (from 23 balls), Heather Graham 26(23), Rachel Priest 20(14), Nat Sciver 17(17), Sammy-Jo Johnson 16(14); Phoenix bowling: Kirsty Gordon 3/26, Erin Burns 1/15, Georgia Elwiss 1/24; Fow 1-34, 2-49, 3-51, 4-63, 5-117, 6-118, 7-125
‘Birmingham Phoenix W’ (BP-W) 129/7 (94/20 balls 1.37 rpb); Erin Burns 38 runs (from 26 balls), Emily Arlott 22*(14) Shafali Verma 16(9); ‘Rockets’ bowling: Sammy-Jo Johnson 3/22, Kathryn Bryce 1/13, Katherine Brunt 1/14, Georgia Davies 1/14, Sarah Glenn 1/29; Fow 1-22, 2-47, 3-53, 4-58, 5-58, 6-71, 7-119
Scorecard at: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/the-hundred-women-s-competition-2021-1252659/trent-rockets-women-vs-birmingham-phoenix-women-27th-match-1252726/full-scorecard
