Southern Brave vs Birmingham Phoenix at Southampton (The Ageas Bowl) on 16 August 2023
Twice runners-up ‘Brave’ were said to need ‘one more point’ to book their place in the finals. Commentators talked of a ‘tough day away from the office’ for ‘Phoenix,’ who’ll play their remaining games for pride. During the match, Georgia Adams also extended her lead, as the tournament’s leading-wicket-taker, taking two more wickets. Receiving POTM Meerkat Match Hero award from Mike Atherton, ‘Brave’s top-scorer Danni Wyatt [who scored 43 runs from 33 balls] told TV viewers it was ‘great to get another win,’ and paid credit to ‘Brave’s’ team (pictured.) Danni Wyatt (total 169 runs) was said to have the 5th highest cumulative score-to-date, on the batter’s leader-board. Fellow opener Smriti Mandhana tops the all-time batter’s leaderboard with 600 runs (at time of writing.) Earlier, former players found the pitch was ‘well-suited’ to spin-bowling, with scope for a ‘whole array’ of slower balls. Introduced for SKY TV by Nick Knight, Lydia Greenway & Mike Atherton (ex-England) with Natalie Germanos (Rep. South Africa). Also with Maitlan Brown (‘Brave’) & Sterre Kalis (‘Phoenix’) via player’s microphones. Match highlights courtesy of Sky Sports (please see below.) Weather at Southampton was sunny, almost cloudless, but cooler than average for mid-August.
SB-W *Skipper/coach Anya Shrubsole with unchanged side. [*Amy Jones keeping wicket for ‘Phoenix’] *Internationals Smriti Mandhana (India), Maitlan Brown (Australia WBBL) & Chloe Tryon (Rep. South Africa.) *England’s Danni Wyatt, Maia Bouchier & Freya Kemp. *Facing opening bowlers Tess Flintoff paired with Sophie Devine, ‘Brave’ were 36/0 after 25 balls ‘Power-play’. *4 Spinners bowled wicketless, up to half-way 68/0. *Change-of-pace when Danni Wyatt 43(33) who ‘didn’t have a shot to go to,’ was bowled by Emily Arlott. *11 balls later, Smriti Mandhana 39(32) was ruled ’leg before’ from Emily Arlott; 39(32.) *Commentators thought the Umpire’s decision was worth review, but Smriti seemed ‘happy to walk-off ‘without asking the question.’ *Had ‘Brave’ reviewed, ‘hawk-eye’ would have given as ’not-out.’ *Two wickets fell from the last ten balls. *Georgia Adams 9(11) ’swung across the line’ and was stumped by Amy Jones from Katie Levick (1/23) *Maia Bouchier 19(19) missed an ‘off-side-sweep’ and was bowled from ‘glove-to-stump’ by Erin Burns(1/18) *Chloe Tryon was 3*not out(3) & Maitlan Brown was 7*not out(3) *Best ‘Brave’ batter was Danni Wyatt 43(33) *Best ‘Phoenix ‘bowler was Emily Arlott 2/22
BP-W *Skipper Evelyn ‘Eve’ Jones [*’Brave’ keeper Rhianna Southby] *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 player Hannah Baker. *Also Scotland’s Abtaha Maqsood. *Sophie Devine 4(2) was caught by Danni Wyatt from Lauren Bell’s third ball. *After 25 balls ‘Power-play,’ Phoenix were 38/1 (vs 36/0) *Sterre Kalis 20(18) went plumb ’leg before’ Georgia Adams. *Eve Jones 21(18) sliced upwards, but was caught ‘in the covers’ by Georgia Adams, from Kalea Moore. *By mid—way ‘Phoenix’ were 64/3 (vs 68/0) *Amy Jones partnered by Erin Burns added 43 runs for Phoenix’s 4th wicket. *Said to be a ‘massive moment, ‘Amy Jones 33 (23) was ‘run-out;’ playing at a ‘wide’ ball and beaten by Maia Bouchier’s long-throw from ‘long-on’ to the striker’s end. *After hitting Georgia Adams for 10 runs from 2 balls, Erin Burns 29(21) was caught ‘in-the-deep’ by Smriti Mandhana, from Georgia Adams. *4 balls later, Abbey Freeborn 5(10) (gaffed elsewhere as ‘Amy’) was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Smriti Mandhana from Lauren Bell’s ‘pace-off’ slower-ball. *Tess Flintoff 0(2) top-edged a ‘steepler,’ was caught & bowled by Anya Shrubsole (2/30) running round and standing her ground, for a 2nd-ball ‘duck.’ *Hannah Baker 1(2) was stumped from the final ball by Rhianna Southby, coming down-the-wicket to Anya Shrubsole*Emily Arlott was 6*not out (4) & Katie Levick was 2*not out(1.) *Best ‘Phoenix ‘batter was Amy Jones 33 (23) *Best ‘Brave’ bowler was bowler Georgia Adams 2/25. *As mentioned above, Georgia Adams remains top leading-wicket-taker leaderboard, taking 15-wickets-to-date. [2nd placed ‘Invincibles’ bowlers Marizanne Kapp & Shabnim Ismail with 9 wickets each]
Match summary: ‘Brave’ openers Danni Wyatt 43(33) and Smriti Mandhana 39(32) put 84 ‘runs-on-the-board.’ Danni Wyatt chalked-up the 5th highest cumulative score-to-date and Smriti Mandhana wnr top of the all-time batter’s leaderboard with 600 runs, overtaking Tammy Beaumont. Highlight of Phoenix’s reply was Amy Jones partnered by Erin Burns adding 43 runs for Phoenix’s 4th wicket. Commentators seemed convinced that Erin Burns would ‘take it all the way.’ Skipper Shrubsole returned to bowl, to ‘close down the match’ with immediate success. Anya Shrubsole, ‘stood her own ground’ to catch a vertical top-edged ‘steepler’ from Tess Flintoff, from her own bowling. Finally Hannah Baker was stumped by Rhianna Southby from Anya Shrubsole’s final ball. As mentioned above, POTM Meerkat Match Hero Danni Wyatt – said it was ‘great to get another win.’ ‘Phoenix’ were said to have ‘got close.’ ‘Brave’ need ‘one more point’ to book their place in the finals: hoping to win the Women’s tournament’s trophy at their third attempt.
Match result: Southern Brave Women 132/4 beat Birmingham Phoenix Women 129/8 by 3 runs
*’Brave’s’ batting: 132/4 (from 100 balls @1.3 runs-per-ball) Danni Wyatt 43(33), Smriti Mandhana 39(32), Maia Bouchier 19(19); *’Phoenix’s’ bowling: Emily Arlott 2/22, Erin Burns 1/18, Katie Levick 1/23; Fow 1-84, 2-94, 3-121, 4-124.
*’Phoenix’s’ 129/8 (from 100 balls @1.3 runs-per-ball) Amy Jones 33 (23), Erin Burns 29(21), Eve Jones 21(18), Sterre Kalis 20(18); *’Brave’’s bowling: Georgia Adams 2/25, Lauren Bell 2/27, Anya Shrubsole 2/30, Kalea Moore 1/24; Fow 1 -5, 2-45, 3-55, 4-98, 5-118, 6-118, 7-121, 8-127.
*Scorecard courtesy of BBC Sport @URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/ECKE1000738
*Match highlights courtesy of SKY Sports @URL https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/12941294/the-hundred-southern-brave-women-and-men-make-it-double-delight-against-birmingham-phoenix
