Welsh Fire vs Northern Superchargers at Cardiff (Sophia Gardens) on 26 August (15h30)
TV pundits expressed divided opinion as the eighteenth women’s match of ‘The Hundred’ tournament unfolded. Both teams lost six wickets and peppered each other with exactly the same number of ‘dot’ balls. Host team benefited from two more batters making double-figures, chalking-up a faster net-run-rate. Darren Gough was sure that Superchargers expected an easy win, whereas Robert Croft was sure that Fire would sing their Welsh side home. POTM match hero Australia’s Nic Carey bagged a ‘3-fer’ (3/18); bowling decisive balls that deprived Superchargers’ two highest scorers of their ‘fifties.’ From that point, commentators agreed that ‘Carey had the match ‘under her control.’ Two balls later, Nic Carey took a third wicket. Receiving her award, Nic Carey explained to TV viewers that she’d ‘rolled her fingers’ over the ball (to take wickets); and the girls were ‘pumped-up’ with the win. Skipper Tammy Beaumont said she was ’totally relieved,’ telling her fans she’d ‘won (the match) for them.’ Match was broadcast via SKY Sports YouTube channel – please see below – with Zainab Abbas, with Natalie Germanos (South Africa), Robert Croft and Darren Gough. Also ESPN-cric-info (Peter Della Penna & Ashish Pant); BBC ’No Balls’ (co-hosted by Alex Hartley) and other social media. Weather at Sophia Gardens was overcast turning brighter with sunny spells with a few drops of rain. 17-22C
Fire Innings
*Skipper Beaumont announced some changes: Australian Nic Carey exchanged for Hayley Matthews (left for WIndies) and Australia’s Rachael Haynes was back (recovered from illness.) *Spinner Hannah Baker for Fi Morris. *Sarah Bryce (2) survived an early ‘run-out’ from World-cup veteran Jenny Gunn’s whose direct-hit, off Linsey Smith; was judged ’not out.’ *After 25 balls power play, Fire were 32/0. *Skipper Beaumont 10(15) was clean-bowled middle-stump by Jenny Gunn, with bales sent flying. *Rachael Haynes came down-the-wicket striking top-edge sent aerial to Hollie Armitage at extra cover,’ from Lucy Higham (1/3.) *By midway, Fire reached 56/2. *After 60 balls, Sarah Bryce 36(30) miscued to Jenny Gunn, taken inside the circle at ‘mid-off;’ from Katie Levick (1/23.) *Australian Annabel Sutherland hit two ‘fours’ to see-off Alice Davidson-Richards. *Jenny Gunn returned for her second set-of-five, nonchalantly dismissing Fran Wilson, caught-and-bowled 5(5.) *Annabel Sutherland partnered by Nic Carey 19(13) added 23 runs for Fire’s 5th wicket, Carey chalking-up ‘100’ on the scoreboard with a ’two.’ *Next ball, Hollie Armitage bowled Carey a ‘full-toss,’ caught at ‘deep-midwicket’ by Bess Heath – said by Robert Croft to be a ‘horrible’ dismissal. *With ten balls remaining, Australian Heather Graham acted quickly when receiving Bess Heath’s incoming throw from ‘deep midwicket;’ causing Katie George 0(1) to ’run herself out’ at the non-striker’s end. *Jenny Gunn’s death-over went for a costly 16 runs, as Annabel Sutherland 31*(52) and Lauren Filer 9*(3) each launched defiant ’sixes’ – the only two ’sixes’ that Fire’s batters could muster, as they hit their target score of 120.
Superchargers’ Innings
Skipper Hollie Armitage. Rachel Slater for injured Beth Langston. Australian Alyssa Healy 4(3) went third ball, caught by Tammy Beaumont at ‘midwicket’ from Claire Nicholas. *Bess Heath played a mirror-image shot, caught at ‘mid-off’ by Rachael Haynes, also from Claire Nicholas (2/17). *After 25 balls power play, Superchargers were two wickets down: 31/2 (vs 32/0); needing 93 runs from 75 balls. *Main partnership between Laura Wolvaardt 41(38) and skipper Armitage 40(38) put on 90 runs for the third wicket. *At midway, Superchargers were 65/2 (vs 56/2); needing 59 from 50 balls. Commentators were critical of both sides. *Questions were asked of Fire’s defensive fielding settings, if they were expecting batting aggression straight away? *When Superchargers’ required-run-rate started to fall behind, batters were criticized for ’not quite getting to the pitch of the ball.’ *Darren Gough anticipated an early Superchargers win, until the match took one final twist. *Strategic-time-out was called on 73/2 after 60 balls, with 51 needed from 40 balls remaining. *Skipper Beaumont later revealed on TV that her ‘time-out’ pep-talk motivated Fire players to try for another wicket and ‘see it through.’ *Breakthrough came when Annabel Sutherland took a comfortable catch to dismiss Laura Wolvaardt, from Carey; with the score at 102/3. *Light drizzle started to fall. *Heather Graham 2(5) was caught by fellow Australian Rachael Haynes, from Annabel Sutherland (1/21). *Robert Croft detected ‘Welsh singing in the crowd’ as Superchargers batting collapse continued and match advantage evaporated during the last ten balls. *Nic Carey (3/18) had Hollie Armitage caught by Tammy Beaumont; and Alice Davidson-Richards 2(4) played-on to her middle stump. *Just 3 runs came from Annabel Sutherland’s last set-of-five balls (95-100) when Superchargers fell short.
Summary
Commentators foresaw that Sophia Gardens was ‘not an easy wicket.’ Fire was first team to put runs on the board with four batters chalking-up double-figure scores. POTM match hero Nic Carey scored 19(13) added 23 runs for Fire’s 5th wicket with her bat. Carey also took a ‘3-fer,’ bagging both Superchargers’ two top batters who’d made double-figures. Superchargers had little appetite to chase down 21 runs needed from the final 16 balls *Instead they suffered an ‘almighty batting collapse,’ when losing 3 wickets for 4 runs during the closing stage. Commentators said that Superchargers chances of progressing beyond the group stage are now ‘seriously dented’ from a ‘crippling’ defeat. Both teams ‘need a miracle’ to qualify for the play-offs. Fire was more positive about the outcome, having chalked-up their first ever win; gained their first two points in the tournament’s short two-year history; and broken their two-year ‘nil points’ duck. Skipper Tammy Beaumont expressed emotions of ‘joy and relief’ having achieved a home win under her captaincy.
Result: Welsh Fire Women 123/6 beat Northern Superchargers Women 112/6 by 11 runs
Fire batting: 123/6 (100 balls @1.23 runs-per-over); Sarah Bryce 36(30) Annabel Sutherland 31*(22),Nic Carey 19(13), Tammy Beaumont 10(15); Superchargers bowling: Jenny Gunn 2/20, Lucy Higham 1/3, Hollie Armitage 1/8, Katie Levick 1/23; Fow 1-41, 2-56, 3-62, 4-78, 5-101, 6-106; Superchargers batting: 112/6 (100 balls @1.12 runs-per-over; target 124 from 100); Laura Wolvaardt 41(38), Hollie Armitage 40(38); Fire bowling: Nic Carey 3/18, Claire Nicholas 2/17, Annabel Sutherland 1/21; Fow 1-4, 2-12, 3-102, 4-104, 5-106, 6-108.
Scorecard & Statistics at URL: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/the-hundred-women-s-competition-2022-1299144/welsh-fire-women-vs-northern-superchargers-women-18th-match-1299162/full-scorecard
Match highlights free-to-air from SKY Sports YouTube [07m54] at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3HYGhvAF_4
Match video free-to-air from SKY Sports YouTube [30m40/03h29m53s] at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EEWvIFCnDA
