Fifteenth match of ‘The Hundred’ Women’s tournament was billed by commentators as a ’top-of-table-clash,’ between defending champions Invincibles, and Phoenix (then, second-placed): aspiring to ‘notch-up their fourth successive victory.’
Commentators changed their tune as the match unfolded, conceding that Phoenix ’needed to do more work’ to qualify for the finals. Invincibles’ convincing win leapfrogs them into second place on equal points with Phoenix. Awarding POTM ‘match hero’ Alice Capsey, Alex Tudor complemented her ‘all-round’ performance: scoring 20 runs from 18 balls and bowling a 3-fer. Earlier, between innings, Capsey (3/15) said she’d bowled ‘full and straight.’ After the match Alice Capsey told Tudor that when batting, she’d hit the ball ‘as hard as she possibly could.’ Match was broadcast via SKY Sports YouTube channel – please see below – with Alex Tudor (Wales), Ravi Shastri (India) plus guests Tammy Beaumont and Joss Buttler (featuring world No.1 Sophie Ecclestone bowling to Danni Wyatt.) Live also via BBC red-button, BBC i-player & 5Live-SportsXtra (sound): Henry Moeran, Melissa Story, Carlos Brathwaite (WIndies) and Alex Hartley. Social media including ESPN-cric-info with Deivarayan Muthu & Peter Della Penna. Weather at Kia Oval was mainly overcast with occasional sunny spells, a light breeze and momentary drizzle 17-22C.
Phoenix innings
Skipper Sophie Devine 7 (4) top-edged from a slog-sweep and was caught-and-bowled by Sophia Smale’s 4th ball: Smale ‘wheeling-round’ for a ‘well-judged’ return catch from the mid-on region.’ During the power play Shabnim Ismail 0/6 (South Africa) bowled two sets-of-five with best economy 0/6 and seven dot-balls. *After 25 balls power play, Phoenix were 23/1. Amy Jones 18(19) who ‘never looked that comfortable,’ sliced a ‘sitter’ to ‘backward-point,’ caught by Kira Chathli, from Alice Capsey. *At mid-way, Phoenix were 46/2 and strategic-time-out was called.*Commentators remarked on the fast outfield. *During the second half, Phoenix lost five wickets quite close together. *Commentators felt that losing Australian Ellyse Perry’s wicket was crucial as previously she’d scored enough runs to take Phoenix ’to a respectable score.’ *Perry 10(13) came down the wicket leg-side and was stumped by Lauren Winfield-Hill, from Mady Villiers. *Two balls later, top scorer Eve Jones 29 (29) was clean-bowled by Alice Capsey. *Australian Sophie Molineux 6(4) missed a sweep and was also clean-bowled by Alice Capsey. Shabnim Ismail returned, delivering four more ‘dot’ balls from a set-of-five. *Next ball, Georgia Elwiss 6(8) skied a top-edge from Ryana Macdonald-Gay (1/16), caught by Sophia Smale – arriving from short-third and diving to her left. *After launching Eva Gray for ’six’, Issy Wong 9(6) was caught at cow-corner by Mady Villiers. *Thereafter, Emily Arlott and Phoebe Franklin scampered ‘ones’ and ‘twos,’ Arlott finishing with ‘four’ via deep mid-wicket. *Between innings, Henry Moeran (BBC) said Phoenix ‘lacked consistency.’ Alice Capsey (3/15) told Alex Tudor (SKY) that she’d bowled ‘full and straight.’
Invincibles innings
Dane van Niekerk (South Africa) returned as skipper from ankle injury, exchanged for Marizanne Kapp (South Africa.) *Suzie Bates (NZ) had told ESPN reporters that she felt ‘very foreign’ when Dane van Niekerk selected her as an ‘overseas player.’ Lauren Winfield-Hill 41*(38) anchored the innings and ‘carried her bat.’ *Fellow opener Suzie Bates 17(11) skied a thick-outside-edge and was caught at ‘short-third’ by Kirstie Gordon from Phoebe Franklin. *After 25 balls power play, Invincibles were 41/1 (vs 23/1.) *On 45/1 Kirstie Gordon dropped a caught-and-bowled chance, but took a second catch from short-third when Alice Capsey 20(18) mistimed from Emily Arlott. *At mid-way, Invincibles were 63/2 (vs 46/2.) *Drama struck when Dane van Niekerk dropped her bat and Amy Jones theatrically fumbled a ‘run-out’ from Georgia Elwiss. *By that time Alex Hartley was certain the match was ‘done and dusted.’ Strategic-time-out was called on 84/2, needing 23 to win. *First ‘fifty’ came from 40 balls, second ‘fifty’ (100/2) after 83 balls .*Henry Moeran pointed out that last year’s clash was almost a carbon-copy. *That saw Phoenix post a below-par score (94 all out) chasing Invincibles’ 115. Alex Hartley told viewers/listeners that Invincibles needed to settle for a quick win to improve their net-run-rate. *Hartley added that NRR was vital to avoid (either side) ‘missing-out’ (to qualify) for the finals.
Summary
Phoenix faced their first tournament defeat, posting a ‘below-par score,’ the match said to be a carbon-copy of last year’s ‘Eliminator’ (when All Out for 94, playing the same team.) Both teams have won three and lost one (6 points.) Commentator Carlos Brathwaite said it was ‘not a good day’ for Phoenix fans; and ‘work needed to be done’ (to improve net-run-rate) before Phoenix could think about qualifying for the finals. For Invincibles, all agreed that POTM Alice Capsey was the ‘stand-out performer.’ When bowling, Capsey took a 3-fer, including both ‘Joneses,’ as top-scorers. When batting, Capsey’s strike rate was better than one-run-per-ball. Invincibles move into second-place, overtaking Phoenix (down from 2nd to 3rd) on superior net-run-rate 0.453 (vs 0.239)
Result: Oval Invincibles Women 107/2 beat Birmingham Phoenix Women 106/7 by 8 wickets (with 13 balls remaining)
Birmingham Phoenix batting: 106/7 (100 balls, 1.06 runs-per-ball): Eve Jones 29(29), Amy Jones 18(20), Emily Arlott 15*(11), Ellyse Perry 10(13); Oval Invincibles bowling: Alice Capsey 3/15, Mady Villiers 1/15, Ryana Macdonald-Gay 1/16, Sophia Smale 1/18, Eva Gray 1/29 (best economy Shabnim Ismail 12 dot-balls); Fow 1-12, 2-37, 3-64, 4-65, 5-71, 6-77, 7–92; Invincibles batting: 107/2: (87/100 balls, 1.22 runs-per-ball) Lauren Winfield-Hill 41*(38), Dane vanNiekerk 21*(21), Alice Capsey 20(18), Suzie Bates 17(11); Phoenix bowling: Phoebe Franklin 1/20, Emily Arlott 1/8; Also best economy with 12 dot-balls); Fow 1-25, 2-63.
Scorecard & Statistics at URL: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/the-hundred-women-s-competition-2022-1299144/oval-invincibles-women-vs-birmingham-phoenix-women-15th-match-1299159/full-scorecard
Match highlights free-to-air from SKY Sports YouTube [11m39] at URL: https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/12680056/oval-invincibles-v-birmingham-phoenix-womens-highlights
Match video free-to-air from SKY Sports YouTube [14m18/02h55m10s] at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLDBNOw_nok
