London Spirit vs Welsh Fire at Lord’s Cricket Ground, North London; on 24 August (15h00)
The sixteenth women’s match of ‘The Hundred’ was billed by commentators as a dead rubber: ’bottom-of-table-clash’ with slim chance of either team making the play-offs. Spirit bowlers struck first when Freya Davies pictured clean-bowled England’s Tammy Beaumont and Australia’s Annabel Sutherland with consecutive balls, raising crowd expectation for a hat-trick. A little later, Davies did indeed take a third wicket ‘3-fer’ (3/25): when Katie George was caught by Australian Megan Schutt. POTM match-hero was awarded to Australia’s Beth Mooney who chalked-up half the runs for a home-team win (61*39 with strike-rate 156.4). Mooney also made two keeper’s stumpings. Separately, Beth Mooney went top of the batting-leader-board, bagging 201 runs-to-date. Match was broadcast via SKY Sports YouTube channel – please see below – with commentators Isa Guha, Lisa Sthalekar (Australia), Lydia Greenway, Carlos Brathwaite (WIndies), Nasser Hussain and Dominic Cork; with guests South Africa’s Dane van Niekerk (first-timer) and Lauren Winfield-Hill (Invincibles.) Also with participation via player’s microphones in the field, from Sophie Luff (Spirit) and Katie George (Fire). For BBC2 & BBC (Wales): Aatif Nawaz, with first timers Moeen Ali and Issy Wong. Social media including BBC Sound: ‘No Balls’ (co-hosted by Alex Hartley) and ESPN-cric-info. Weather: hot afternoon with blue sky and ‘a few’ clouds 18-22C
Fire Innings
Tammy Beaumont (skipper) said Maddy Green (NZ) replaced Hayley Matthews (WIndies). *Scotland’s Sarah Bryce was promoted to open the batting. *From the field, Sophie Luff told commentators that Spirit were hoping for ‘a couple of wickets’ during the power play, but after 25 balls, Fire were 38 without loss. *Drama struck before mid-way when Freya Davies took two wickets: Tammy Beaumont 19(14), and Annabel Sutherland (0.) *Sutherland receiving ‘the perfect delivery,’ as judged by Issy Wong (commentating.) *Fire’s first 50 runs came from 37 balls. *Second pair of wickets fell either side of mid-way 62/3, within six balls of each other. *Sarah Bryce 33(25) lofted high over mid-off, and was caught by Megan Schutt from Amelia Kerr (NZ.) *Also, Maddy Green 10(13) (NZ) was clean-bowled by Danielle Gibson (1/14) at 64/4 after 55 balls. *Fran Wilson (7) was short-lived, caught by Charlie Dean from Megan Schutt. *As mentioned above, Katie George was caught by Megan Schutt at long-on (score 107/6); handing Freya Davies her ‘3-fer’(3/25.) Two wickets fell on the same score when Nic Carey (Aus) was stumped by Beth Mooney, coming down the wicket to Amelia Kerr’s slower ball; and Claire Nicholas was run-out for a golden duck by Charlie Dean’s throw from ‘extra-cover’ to keeper Beth Mooney(109/8). *Lauren Filer was stumped by Mooney from Megan Schutt (2/26); leaving Alex Hartley and Hannah Baker ’not out.’
Spirit Innings
Skipper Charlie Dean, with Heather Knight said to be ‘ruled-out.’ Promoted to open the batting with Beth Mooney, Danielle Gibson scored 24 of the 32 runs from the first 19 balls: that provided ‘proper entertainment,’ hitting ’six.’ Commentator Aatif Nawaz said that Gibson ’took the game by the scruff-of-the-neck’ until Gibson’s innings was interrupted by Annabel Sutherland’s ‘proper bouncer.’ When Maddy Green took the catch, commentators said it was a ’turning point’ in the game. Third Umpire gave ’no ball, for height’ said to be a ‘rare decision.’ Gibson was called back to the crease. Carlos Brathwaite commented on the pressure from Annabel Sutherland’s set-of-five ending the power play 25/0. Just after mid-way, Danielle Gibson 34(27) was ‘unlucky to find a fielder,’ caught by Sutherland, after hitting Lauren Filer’s short ball well. Commentators complemented England wannabe Danielle Gibson on her ‘amazing performance.’ Strategic-time-out was taken after 60 balls, on 82/1; Spirit needing 38 runs. On player’s microphone, Katie George expressed a little disappointment that earlier, Fire had ’not quite fired with the bat,’ despite playing ‘good cricket.’ With 20 balls remaining, Sophie Luff 12(13) mis-timed a vertical catch taken by Tammy Beaumont, from Claire Nicholas. The highlight of the closing stage was Beth Mooney’s ‘fifty’ from 9 ‘fours.’ Mooney also struck the winning ‘four’ to carry-her-bat on 61*not out (from 39 balls); bagging a total of 201 runs – the most runs scored so far in this years’ tournament.
Summary
An entertaining ‘dead rubber’ with Fire looking set to receive the tournament’s wooden spoon. Although Fire started well by making a better power play score (38/0 vs 25/0); Spirit caught-up by 30 balls. England’s Freya Davies made the first breakthrough taking two early wickets within two balls (Tammy Beaumont and Annabel Sutherland). Another pair of wickets fell either side of mid-way (Sarah Bryce and Maddy Green.) Wickets were thrown away in the closing stage, to chalk-up a defendable score once 100 runs was reached. Fire finished on 119, on a ‘carpet’ pitch for 130. Drama struck during the host’s reply when Umpires ruled Danielle Gibson ‘out’ but summoned her back, because of an unusually high bouncer that was ruled ’no ball.’ POTM Beth Mooney made top score and carried her bat, scoring half the runs needed to win from just 39 deliveries. Commentators added that Mooney goes top of the batting-leader-board with 201 runs, overtaking South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt 195. After the match Megan Schutt showed viewers her grazed arm from diving into the boundary rope to save ‘four.’
Result: London Spirit Women 122/2 beat Welsh Fire Women 119/9 by 8 wickets (with 14 balls remaining)
Fire batting: 119/9 (from 100 balls@1.19 runs-per-ball) Sarah Bryce 33(25), Tammy Beaumont 19(14), Nicola Carey 28(21), Maddy Green 10(13); Spirit bowling: Freya Davies 3/25, Amelia Kerr 2/14, Megan Schutt 2/26, Danielle Gibson 1/14; Fow 1-46, 2-46, 3-62, 4-64, 5-95, 6–107, 8-109, 9-114. Spirit batting: 122/2 (from 86/100 balls@1.41 runs-per-ball; target 120 from 100 balls) Beth Mooney 61*(39) Danielle Gibson 34(17), Sophie Luff 12(13); Fire bowling: Claire Nicholas 1/18, Lauren Filer 1/22; Fow 1-66, 2-100.
Scorecard & Statistics at URL: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/the-hundred-women-s-competition-2022-1299144/london-spirit-women-vs-welsh-fire-women-16th-match-1299160/full-scorecard
Match highlights free-to-air from SKY Sports YouTube [7m01] at URL: https://www.skysports.com/the-hundred/video/36891/12680698/london-spirit-claim-first-the-hundred-victory
Match video free-to-air from SKY Sports YouTube [32m16/03h28m05s] at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LfC2aD5FKM
