Northern Superchargers vs Birmingham Phoenix – at Headingley (Leeds) at 15h00 on 3 August
Commentators lauded both teams for a ‘thrilling game,’ (albeit a little one-sided) Superchargers’ ‘All-rounder’ Alice Davidson-Richards ‘AD-R’ (pictured) was ’superb’ with the ball; awarded POTM: ‘Meerkat Match Hero’ cap & medal. Overall, AD-R took three wickets, two catches plus a direct-hit at stumps that caused a ‘run-out.’ For an encore, Alice Davidson-Richards scored the match-winning ‘six.’ Match was introduced for SKY Sports by TV presenter Jacqueline Shepherd, with cricket commentators Lydia Greenway OBE & Mark Butcher. Also with Simon Doull (NZ TV personality) on-field with England bowler James ‘Jimmy’ Anderson OBE. Additional commentary from Alex Tudor (former England player) and Kumar Sangakkara (former Sri Lanka skipper.) Weather at Headingley was ‘dry, cool and cloudy’ for August.
BP-W *Skipper Eve Jones, said to have stood-in ‘at 4 days notice’ (for Ellyse Perry.) *[Bess Heath keeping wicket for Superchargers] *International players Sophie Devine (former NZ skipper), Erin Burns & Tess Flintoff (Australia Women’s Big Bash League WBBL.) *Eve Jones 10(8) was caught from a straight drive to ‘mid-on,’ by Alice Davidson-Richards, from Kate Cross (1/26.) *After 25 balls Power-play, Phoenix were 36/1 *Amy Jones 13(13) was ‘well-timed,’ but caught at ‘square’ by debutante Leah Dobson from AD-R; *Erin Burns 3(5) was spectacularly caught-and-bowled by Georgia Wareham (1/24): a ‘game-changing’ moment. *At mid-way Phoenix were 55/3. *Tess Flintoff 3(4) went for a carbon copy of an earlier dismissal: caught at ‘square’ by Leah Dobson from AD-R; *Emily Arlott 5(11) was ‘run-out’ taking a ‘risky single’ by AD-R’s direct-hit from ‘mid-off,’ bowled by Kate Cross. *2 balls later, Sophie Devine 46(36) ‘reverse-cut’ to ‘mid-off,’ and was caught by Phoebe Litchfield; also from AD-R. *After hitting her 4th ball for ‘six,’ Issy Wong 9(7) was caught at ‘long-on,’ by AD-R ‘running to her left;’ from Linsey Smith (1/10.) *Facing the penultimate ball, Abbey Freeborn 14(11) was ‘run-out’ ‘by a wide-margin’ at the striker’s-end, by Georgia Wareham’s accurate throw to keeper Bess Heath from AD-R’s bowling. Charis Pavely & Hannah Baker were ‘not out.’ *Phoenix’s best batter was Sophie Devine 46(36) *Superchargers’ best bowler was Alice Davidson-Richards 3/20.
NSC-W *Skipper Hollie Armitage, *[Amy Jones keeping wicket for Phoenix] *International players Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Wareham (Australia) & Jemimah Rodrigues (India) replacing Alyssa Healy (Australia.) *Missing a ‘reverse-sweep,’ Marie Kelly 24(20) was bowled by leg-spinner Katie Levick (1/18.) clocked at between 47-51 mph. *After 25 balls Power-play, Superchargers were level-pegging on 39/1 (vs36/1.) *Jemimah Rodrigues 16(10) went ‘leg-before’ to Issy Wong (1/9.) *Approaching mid-way, Phoebe Litchfield was said to be ‘a special batting talent,’ with ‘timing and placement; striking fellow Australian Tess Flintoff for 4 successive ‘fours.’ *By mid-way, Superchargers were at least 20 runs ahead: ’running-away-with-it’ on 76/2 (vs 55/3); needing just 35 runs to win. *Strategic-time-out’ was taken (for drinks) after 60 balls, with Superchargers on 91/2. *Next set-of-five after play resumed, Hollie Armitage 13(14) was caught at ‘cow corner’ by Erin Burns, from debutante bowler Hannah Baker 1/20. *Phoebe Litchfield closed 42*not out(29.) *Alice Davidson-Richards 11*not out (5) demonstrated ‘such confidence’ when lofting an ‘off-drive,’ to score the match-winning ‘six.’ Best Superchargers’ batter was Phoebe Litchfield 42*not out(29). *Best Phoenix bowler Issy Wong 1/9.
Match summary: Superchargers ‘professional performance,’ was ‘polished all-round.’ All Superchargers’ batters reached double-figures. Debutante batter Phoebe Litchfield was lauded as a ‘very special talent.’ Phoenix had earlier ‘made a good start’ as Sophie Devine hit top-score, but ‘lost momentum’ as Phoenix’s strike-rate ‘fell back,’ with 20 balls remaining. Appreciating that ‘spin’ bowling was ‘the order-of-the-day,’ (on a ‘slow’ wicket) commentators gave opinion firstly that Phoenix ended 20 runs short of a ‘challenging’ total. Secondly, (when Superchargers were batting) Phoenix’s ‘strike’ bowlers needed to take wickets when ‘defending a low score.’ Alex Tudor called somewhat optimistically for “2 ‘hat-tricks’.”Receiving POTM ‘Meerkat Match Hero’ cap and medal, Alice Davidson-Richards explained that her success came from bowling her ‘best’ ball ‘every time.’ AD-R added that Superchargers’ batters ‘did all the work.’ Separately, continuing Superchargers’ ‘good run:’ (said to be) ‘unbeaten at Headlingley,’ since last season. Highest ‘net-run-rate’ send them top-of-table with just one round played-to-date.
Match result: Northern Superchargers Women 112/3 beat Birmingham Phoenix Women 111/8 by seven wickets and with 22 balls remaining
*Phoenix’s batting:110/8 (@1.1 runs per ball) from 100 balls; Sophie Devine 46(36), Amy Jones 13(13), Abbey Freeborn 14(11), Eve Jones 10(8); *Superchargers bowling: Alice Davidson-Richards 3/20, Linsey Smith 1/10, Georgia Wareham 1/24, Kate Cross 1/26; Fow 1-29, 2-44, 3-56, 4-65, 5-81, 6-83, 7-95, 8-110.
*Superchargers’ batting: 112/3 (@1.4 runs per ball from 78 balls; target 111 from 100 balls) Phoebe Litchfield 42*not out(29), Marie Kelly 24(20), Jemimah Rodrigues 16(10), Hollie Armitage 13(14), Alice Davidson-Richards 11*not out(5); *Phoenix bowling: Issy Wong 1/9, Katie Levick 1/18, Hannah Baker 1/20; Fow 1-23, 2-58, 3-95.
*Scorecard courtesy of BBC Sport @URL: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/ECKE1000720
*Match highlights courtesy of Sky Sports @URL https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/cricket/12933169/four-consecutive-fours-phoebe-litchfield-shows-class-to-put-northern-superchargers-in-control
