Birmingham Phoenix vs Manchester Originals at Edgbaston on 28 August (15h30)
The twentieth women’s match of ‘The Hundred’ tournament was billed for Phoenix to secure their place in the ‘Play-offs’ as one of the top-three teams. Originals skipper Kate Cross later said her team ‘had nothing to lose’ to keep their chances alive to play in those knock-outs. As the match unfolded, Phoenix ‘suffered a ‘top-order batting collapse,’ creating a wide margin (92 vs 15 runs) between scores made by each team’s top-four players; to the disbelief of TV commentators. POTM ‘match hero’ Sophie Ecclestone was the fifth batter to make double figures, scoring 20 runs (from 14 balls); that included a crowd-pleasing ’six.’ When bowling, Ecclestone took a ‘3-fer’ (3/8) had a hand in five dismissals. Ecclestone also bowled the most ‘dot’ balls. After the match, Sophie Ecclestone told reporters that Originals were ‘buzzing’ to have won and she was ‘happy to contribute’ to the win. Match was broadcast via SKY Sports YouTube channel – please see below – with Simon Doull (NZ), Natalie Germanos (Australia), Nasser Hussain and guest Lauren Winfield-Hill. Also ESPN-cric-info (Ekanth, Sreshth and Raghav); BBC ’No Balls’ co-hosted by Alex Hartley and other social media. Weather at Edgbaston was bright and sunny: around 16-22C
Originals innings
Skipper Kate Cross. *Various changes: Amy Satterthwaite (NZ) and Erin Burns (Australia) replacing Deandre Dottin (WIndies) and Lea Tahuhu (NZ); *Also Phoebe Graham for Cordelia Griffith. *After 25 balls power play, Originals were 41/0. *Issy Wong’s (1/13) first set-of-five was eventful, South Africa’s Lizelle Lee 20(16) chalking-up 50 runs with a ’single’ but three balls later Lee was ruled ’leg before,’ hitting ‘middle-and-leg.’ Next set-of-five, Emma Lamb 30(21) was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Georgia Elwiss, from Emily Arlott (2/17.) *At mid-way, Originals were 60/2. *Third-wicket partnership between Erin Burns 28(25) and Amy Satterthwaite 13 (12) posted 32 runs until Satterthwaite played-on from a ‘reverse-sweep,’ bagging Scotland’s Kirstie Gordon her first wicket. *Crucially, all top four players all made double-figures. *Disaster struck five balls later for Ami Campbell who was ‘caught off guard,’ by keeper Eve Jones (receiving from bowler Sophie Molineux):- staging a carbon copy run-out of an earlier match. Commentators helpfully suggested that Campbell was losing sight of ’small things’ (that mattered). *Australian Erin Burns 28(25) miscued for a sitter over the non-striker’s head and was caught at ‘long-on’ by Phoebe Franklin, from Kirstie Gordon. *Partnered by Ellie Threlkeld, Sophie Ecclestone 20(14) hit Australia’s Sophie Molineux for ‘six,’ until clean-bowled by Emily Arlott’s ’slower yorker’ that skittled ‘middle-and-leg.’ *Skipper Cross faced one ball: 1*(1) not out.
Phoenix innings
Skipper Sophie Devine (NZ) made no changes. *Kate Cross (2/14) saw off both openers. *Facing her third ball (with one ‘wide’) Eve Jones 0(2) was caught by Lizelle Lee at ‘point,’ for a second-ball duck, from Cross. *‘Battle-of-the-Joneses’ was resolved when Amy Jones 6(7) played-on to middle-stump from Hannah Jones’ (2/25). *Kate Cross returned, her first-ball trapped her opposing skipper Sophie Devine 4(7) ‘leg before.’ *Phoenix posted their worst power play score 15/3 (vs 41/0). *Two more wickets fell during the next two sets-of-five. Ellyse Perry 5(8) was caught up-close by keeper Ellie Threlkeld (without wearing keeper’s pads), from Phoebe Graham; and Sophie Molineux 3(6) went ‘leg before’ to Sophie Ecclestone. *Following ‘an almighty collapse,’ Georgia Elwiss and Issy Wong each made 11 runs by mid-way; at which point Phoenix were 42/5 (vs 60/2); their partnership ending after another 25 balls. *After 75 balls Phoenix were 68/5, needing an unlikely 55 runs from 25 balls remaining. *During a final push, Phoenix’ hopes faded when Issy Wong 24(26) was stumped by Ellie Threlkeld from Hannah Jones; and nine balls later, Georgia Elwiss 32(25) ’swiped’ a shot to ‘deep-midwicket,’ caught by Ecclestone from Erin Burns. *Sophie Ecclestone ‘death over’ put paid to Phoenix’ miraculous rejuvenation, when taking three wickets in five balls. *Both Phoebe Franklin and Kirstie Gordon were clean-bowled with consecutive balls from Ecclestone (3/8). Scotland’s Abtaha Maqsood 0(2) was ‘run-out’ by Grace Potts throw to Ecclestone, for a second-ball duck from the final match ball.
Summary
Phoenix top-order batting collapse meant that their power play score was below-par. Originals as the underdogs, posted a good power play score, with their top four players (tally 92 runs) all posting double-figures. POTM match hero Sophie Ecclestone was the fifth batter to make double figures for Originals, scoring 20 runs (from 14 balls); that included a crowd-pleasing ’six.’ By comparison, Phoenix’ top four players failed to reach double-figures (tally 15 runs). Ecclestone later put paid to any thoughts of Phoenix’ rejuvenation, having a hand in five dismissals. For Originals, Sophie Ecclestone took most wickets and bowled the highest number of dot balls. Phoenix batters Georgia Elwiss and Issy Wong staged a recovery, but ‘too little, too late.’ Sophie Ecclestone bagged tail-enders’ wickets. Following Originals’ unexpected win, the final round of six matches will decide which team will join the top two teams already through to the next stage of the tournament (Invincibles and Brave.)
Result: Manchester Originals Women 122/6 beat Birmingham Phoenix Women 104/10; by 18 runs.
Originals batting 122/6 (100 balls @1.26 runs-per-over) Emma Lamb 30(21), Erin Burns 28(25), Sophie Ecclestone 20(14), Lizelle Lee 20(16), Amy Satterthwaite 13(12); Phoenix bowling: Emily Arlott 2/17, Kirstie Gordon 2/20, Issy Wong 1/13; Fow 1-53, 2-54, 3-86, 4-86, 5-103, 6-121; Phoenix batting 104/10 (100 balls @1.04 runs-per-over; target 123 from 100) Georgia Elwiss 32(25), Issy Wong 24(26), Emily Arlott 14*(10); Originals bowling: Sophie Ecclestone 3/8, Kate Cross 2/14, Hannah Jones 2/25, Phoebe Graham 1/19, Erin Burns 1/25; Fow 1-1, 2-10, 3-12, 4-20, 5-22, 6-68, 7-91, 8-104, 9-104, 10-104.
Scorecard & Statistics at URL: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/the-hundred-women-s-competition-2022-1299144/birmingham-phoenix-women-vs-manchester-originals-women-20th-match-1299164/full-scorecard
Match highlights free-to-air from SKY Sports YouTube [07m11] at URL: https://www.skysports.com/the-hundred/news/36890/12683951/the-hundred-birmingham-phoenix-falter-in-play-off-pursuit-with-defeat-to-manchester-originals
Match video free-to-air from SKY Sports YouTube [04m26/02h28m26s] at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YM9DdaEPlI
