Trent Rockets vs Birmingham Phoenix at Nottingham (Trent Bridge) on 31 July 2024
Midlands derby ‘between east and west’ turned into a ‘fantastic game of cricket’ decided by the last ball. Describing match highlights, commentators said there were ‘small margins.’ Phoenix had posted a defendable score and later, bowled well. Rockets were a ’strong home side.’ Skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt’s ‘fifty,’ scored back-to-back ‘fifties’ taking her to the top of the Women’s Hundred batting leader board with 815 runs. Phoenix fielders were lauded for ‘putting their bodies on the line.’ Commentators agreed that the ‘moment of the match’ was when Hannah Baker took a rolling catch, having hit the ground hard ‘which must have hurt,’ but did well to hang-on (to the ball) to dismiss Nat Sciver-Brunt. That ‘put an end to’ Rockets’ run-chase. Separately, when receiving POTM ‘Meerkat match hero’ cap-and-medal from Alex Tudor, winning skipper Ellyse Perry told TV cameras that she had a ‘new squad’ and it was ‘time to stop talking’ about Phoenix ever having a losing-streak. Previously, Phoenix suffered an unbroken run of twelve consecutive defeats and last won during 2022. Ellyse Perry made top-score [66 runs from (34 balls)] with top strike-rate for her team, during a century partnership with Sterre Kalis (pictured) who played anchor and carried her bat – undefeated on 48*not out. Between innings, Alex Tudor interviewed Sterre Kalis, pitch-side. Commentators for SKY Sports were Natalie Germanos (broadcaster & actress from Rep. South Africa TV); with Simon Doull (NZ broadcaster & former NZ international), Nasser Hussain OBE (broadcaster & former England international), Alex Tudor (former England international); with guest Katherine Sciver-Brunt OBE (former England international); Weather was hot and sunny 22C.
Phoenix’s innings: *skipper Ellyse Perry Perry (Australia), with other international players Sterre Kalis (NL), Suzie Bates & Sophie Devine (New Zealand); One change: Fran Wilson for Issy Wong *[Natasha ‘Nat’ Wraith keeping wicket for Rockets]; *After 25 balls ‘power-play 22/0; *Sophie Devine went ‘leg-before’ to Alana King; *At mid-way (50 balls) 45/1; Hundred-run partnership between Ellyse Perry and Sterre Kalis; *Strategic time-out taken on 79/1 after 70 balls bowled with 30 remaining; *Two wickets fell during Heather Graham’s death over; *Firstly Ellyse Perry was caught at ‘backward square’ by Alexa Stonehouse, from Heather Graham; *Finally, Amy Jones was first dropped, then ‘run-out’ by Grace Scrivens’ throw from ‘backward point’ to keeper Nat Wraith; *Phoenix’s batting: Ellyse Perry 66(34), Sterre Kalis 48*not out(42), Sophie Devine 17(21); *Rockets’ bowling: Heather Graham 1/15, Alana King 1/26;
*Rockets’ innings: skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt, with international players: Ashleigh ‘Ash’ Gardner, Heather Graham & Alana King (all Australia); One change: Alexa Stonehouse for Grace Potts; *[Amy Jones keeping wicket for Phoenix] *After 25 balls ‘power-play’ (31/1 vs 22/0) *Grace Scrivens was caught at shoulder height by Suzie Bates from Ellyse Perry, arriving at ‘long-off’ to the left-hander; *At mid-way (50 balls) 55/1 (vs 45/1); *Following commentator’s curse that ‘something had to happen:’ Bryony Smith was caught at ‘long-on’ by Ellyse Perry from Katie Levick; *With ‘mounting pressure,’ (to score faster) Ash Gardner was bowled by Charis Pavely; *Pivotal moment three balls later when Nat Sciver-Brunt was caught over her shoulder, at ‘short-fine-leg’ by Hannah Baker (as mentioned above) also from Charis Pavely; *Going for the big hit, Katie George was stumped by Amy Jones, from Katie Levick; *Alana King was ‘run-out’ by Sophie Devine’s throw from the ‘covers,’ to Emily Arlott at the non-striker’s end; *Going for a second run, Natasha Wraith was ‘run-out,’ leaving Heather Graham at the striker’s end; *’Massive moment’ when Heather Graham lofted to ‘point’ but could only run ‘two;’ falling short by three runs; *Rockets’ batting: Nat Sciver-Brunt 59(37), Heather Graham 30*not out (12), Bryony Smith 23(25), Ash Gardner 10(11); *Phoenix’s bowling: Charis Pavely 2/20, Katie Levick 2/26 Ellyse Perry 1/10;
*Match result: Birmingham Phoenix 139/3 (@1.3 runs-per-ball from 100/100 balls) beat Trent Rockets 136/7 (@1.3 r-p-b, target 140 from 100/100 balls) by 3 runs
*Full match courtesy of SKY Sports Cricket free-to-air via YouTube [03h30m20s] @url https://www.youtube.com/live/GSEjiC3rH4I
*Edited highlights courtesy of SKY Sports Cricket free-to-air via YouTube [11m48s] https://www.thehundred.com/teams/trent-rockets/video/4072268/trent-rockets-vs-birmingham-phoenix-women-s-match-highlights
*Fixtures @url https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/3801564/the-hundred-2024-fixtures
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