Birmingham Phoenix vs Welsh Fire at Edgbaston (Birmingham) on 10 August (15h00)
‘The Hundred’ history was re-written when fast-bowler Shabnim Ismail’s ‘hat-trick’ (last) ball (of the match) clinched ‘Fire’s’ third win by 3 runs.’ Electing ‘Phoenix’ to win until the very end, commentators changed their tune: pointing out that ‘Fire’ had already beaten both of last year’s finalists. POTM Meerkat Match Hero was awarded to Shabnim Ismail. Commentators added that Shabnim Ismail became the second bowler to score a ‘hat-trick’ during ‘The Hundred.’ Earlier, skipper Tammy Beaumont had told commentators that ‘Fire’ players expect to win as the team’s mentality is ‘completely different’ to previous years. During the interval between innings, Hayley Matthews added that Fire were ‘happy’ with their score. Introduced by Mark Butcher, Lydia Greenway, Charles Dagnall, (ex England); also Simon Doull (NZ TV personality) & Amber Sandhu (BBC radio WM.) Guests Stuart Broad (England Ashes series) & Claire Daniel, Edgbaston Operations Director, promoting ‘wellness’ of players and ’sustainability’ of cricket. Match highlights courtesy of Sky Sports (please see below.) Weather at Edgbaston was rain-free with ‘bright sunshine,’ and cooler than expected for August.
WF-W *Skipper Tammy Beaumont [*Phoenix keeper Amy Jones] *Internationals Shabnim Ismail (Rep. South Africa), Hayley Matthews (skipper WIndies), Laura Harris (Australia Women’s Big Bash League), England’s Tammy Beaumont, Sophia Dunkley & Freya Davies; with Scotland’s Sarah Bryce. *After 25 balls ‘Power-play,’ ‘Fire’ were 38/0. *Hayley Matthews 23(23) was ballooned to ‘backward point,’ caught by Sterre Kalis, from Hannah Baker. *After 50 balls (mid-way) ‘Fire’ were 72/1. *Tammy Beaumont 59(40) was caught at ‘deep mid-wicket’ by Erin Burns diving right, from Tess Flintoff (1/11) *With 3rd best competition strike-rate-to-date, Laura Harris 1(4) missed a ‘reverse sweep,’ going ‘leg-before’ to Emily Arlott *Sophia Dunkley 25(19) was caught ‘at backward point’ by Sterre Kalis from Hannah Baker (2/21) *Sarah Bryce 1(3) was caught short of ‘mid-off’ by diving Tess Flintoff, from Emily Arlott (2/33) *Two wickets fell from the last two balls, a time-penalty limiting the number of boundary fielders. *Georgia Elwiss 10(9) was caught by Eve Jones arriving from cover, from Katie Levick *Next ball, Freya Davies 0(1) was caught at ‘deep-mid-wicket’ for a ‘golden duck’ by Erin Burns jumping high, from Katie Levick (2/28) *Emily Windsor 3*(3) was ’not out.’ *’Fire’s’ top-scorer was Tammy Beaumont 59(40) *Phoenix’s best bowler was Hannah Baker 2/21.
BP-W *Skipper Evelyn ‘Eve’ Jones [*Fire keeper Sarah Bryce] *International players Sophie Devine (NZ), Erin Burns & Tess Flintoff (Australia, WBBL), Sterre Kalis (NL) with Amy Jones, Issy Wong (England) & u-19’s World Cup players Charis Pavely and Hannah Baker. *Without Charis Pavely. *After 25 balls ‘Power-play,’ Phoenix were level-pegging: 32/0(vs38/0) *Sophie Devine 29(19) was bowled by a ‘full toss’ deflecting onto middle stump, from Alex Griffiths ‘a massive wicket.’ *After 50 balls (mid-way) ‘Phoenix’ were 64/1 (vs72/1.) *Three wickets fell from the last three balls. *Firstly, Tess Flintoff 55(45) was bowled by a ‘half-volley’ to leg stump, from Shabnim Ismail. *Secondly, Erin Burns 0(1) was caught by Claire Nicholas, short of ‘third’ for a golden duck from Shabnim Ismail *Finally, Issy Wong 0(1) was bowled by a full-length ‘Yorker’ to ‘leg-stump’ for another golden duck from Shabnim Ismail’s ‘hat-trick’ ball, to win the match. *Non-striker Amy Jones 48*‘not out’(34.) *’Phoenix’s’ top-scorer was Tess Flintoff 55(45.) *’Fire’s’ best bowler was Shabnim Ismail 3/31.
Match summary Cliff-hanger ending with three wickets falling from the last three balls, to win the match. As mentioned above, commentators were quick to point out that ‘Fire’ had already beaten both of last year’s finalists; but raised doubt until the final ball was bowled, whether Shabnim Ismail could take a ‘hat trick’ from the last 3 balls. Commentators added that Phoenix’s top-three batters put runs on-the-board, but middle-order batters ‘couldn’t get the job done. Top-scorer Tess Flintoff was ‘disappointed’ given the ‘nice position’ (until the last 3 balls.) Receiving her POTM Meerkat Match Hero cap-and-medal award, Shabnim Ismail said she believed in a bowler’s ability to ‘bounce back’ (to win a match); wanted to play another final; and ‘loved’ coming to the UK to play ‘good cricket.’ ‘Fire’s’ third win returns them undefeated, to the top-of-table, with four rounds played to date.
Match result: Welsh Fire Women 137/7 beat Birmingham Phoenix Women 134/4 by 3 runs
*Fire batting: 137/7: (from 100 balls@1.3 runs-per-ball); Tammy Beaumont 59(40), Sophia Dunkley 25(19), Hayley Matthews 23(23), Georgia Elwiss 10(9); *Phoenix bowling: Hannah Baker 2/21, Katie Levick 2/28, Emily Arlott 2/33, Tess Flintoff 1/11; Fow 1-72, 2-95, 3-96, 4-124, 5-132, 6-137, 7-137.
*Phoenix batting: 134/10 (from 100 balls@1.3 runs-per-ball); Tess Flintoff 55(45) Amy Jones 48*not out(34), Sophie Devine 29(19); *Fire’s bowling: Shabnim Ismail 3/31, Alex Griffiths 1/23; Fow 1-41, 2-134, 3-134, 4-134.
*Scorecard courtesy of BBC Sport @URL: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/ECKE1000730
*Match report courtesy of Warwickshire CCC @URL https://edgbaston.com/fixtures/womens/birmingham-phoenix-vs-welsh-fire-10-august-2023-2/
