Welsh Fire vs Southern Brave at Cardiff (Sophia Gardens) on 5 August 2024
Welsh Fire chalked up a ‘major win’ under Tammy Beaumont‘s (pictured) captaincy at home, beating the defending champions by chasing-down their 85 run target with relative ease (with seven wickets-in-hand.) Commentators added that Fire’s convincing win extends their top-of-table lead and are now ‘within touching distance’ to qualify for the ‘Eliminator spot.’ Receiving POTM ‘Meerkat match hero’ cap-and-medal from Robert Croft, Hayley Matthews [who bowled a 3-fer, taking three wickets for 16 for runs] said that she’d got ’a bit of turn,’ (from a spinner’s wicket; adding that it had helped to have everyone contributing ‘with back-up’ (to play) as a team. Commentators for SKY Sports, also via ‘YouTube’ social media (with explanatory text, please see below) by Melanie ‘Mel’ Jones (broadcaster & former Australian international), Robert ‘Crofty’ Croft MBE (Welsh cricketer, former England international), Dinesh Karthik (former India international) Charles Dagnall (broadcaster & former county player), and Alex Tudor (former England international.) Weather was reportedly breezy with a ‘blanket’ of cloud; stated as 24C.
*Brave’s innings *skipper Georgia Adams with international players Lauren Cheatle (Australia), Also with Chloe Tryon (Rep. South Africa) & Smriti Mandhana (India) replacing Charli Knott (Aus); *[Sarah Bryce keeping wicket for Fire]; *Smriti Mandhana snicked an edge to keeper, from Freya Davies ‘angling away’ from the left-hander, for a golden duck. *Maia Bouchier was ‘caught high’ by Phoebe Franklin from Beth Langston; *After 25 balls ‘power-play’ 27/2; *Danni Wyatt went aerial, with a difficult running-catch taken by Tammy Beaumont; *Freya Kemp was caught at ‘long-off’ (to the left-hander – elsewhere ‘long-on’), from Hayley Matthews; *Bad situation midway after 50 balls 60/4: became worse when Georgia Adams played-on to her stumps from Jess Jonassen; *Chloe Tryon was bowled ‘top-of-middle’ with bails flying, by Hayley Matthews; *Lobbing a return-dolly, Naomi Dattani was caught-and-bowled ‘high-up’ by Freya Davies’ from her slower-ball; *Upon review (with no sign of the batter) Lauren Cheatle was ‘run-out’ by Hayley Matthews’ throw to keeper Sarah Bryce at the striker’s end; *Rhianna Southby was caught by Georgia Elwiss, from Hayley Matthews; *Finally, Tilly Corteen-Coleman ‘had no answer’ when bowled ‘through-the-gate’ by Jess Jonassen’s ’straight’ delivery; *Brave’s batting: Georgia Adams 17(18), Danni Wyatt 14(14), Freya Kemp 11(10); *Fire’s bowling: Hayley Matthews 3/16, Freya Davies 2/12, Jess Jonassen 2/14, Beth Langston 1/8, Georgia Davis 1/22;
*Fire’s innings: *skipper Tammy Beaumont with international players Hayley Matthews (WIndies); & Jess Jonassen (Australia); *[Rhianna Southby keeping wicket for Brave]; *Sophia Dunkley was bowled ‘top of middle stump’ with bails flying, for a golden duck from Lauren Cheatle; *Surviving first-ball review decision, Hayley Matthews played cautiously until caught one-handed high at ‘mid-on’ by Georgia Adams, from Tilly Corteen-Coleman, who was ‘continuing to bag big names;’ *After 25 balls power-play 38/2 (vs27/2); *Tammy Beaumont was bowled ‘top of leg stump’ with bails flying, by Lauren Cheatle *At mid-way (50 balls) 64/3 (vs 60/4); *Fire’s batting: Three batters from each side made double-figures; Tammy Beaumont 34(36), Sarah Bryce 20*not out(27), Jess Jonassen 13*not out(10); *Brave’s bowling: Lauren Cheatle 2/8, Tilly Corteen-Coleman 1/21;
*Match result: Welsh Fire 88/3 (1.3 runs-per-ball, target 85 from 100/100) beat Southern Brave 84/10 (1.3 runs-per-ball, from 91/100) by seven wickets (with 10 balls remaining)
*Edited highlights courtesy of SKY Sports Cricket for ‘The Hundred’ (Women) free-to-air via YouTube [11m02s] @url https://www.thehundred.com/video/4076375/welsh-fire-vs-southern-brave-women-s-highlights-2024#!
*Fixtures @url https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/3801564/the-hundred-2024-fixtures *Results with link to match centre for edited highlights courtesy of The Hundred (Women) @url https://www.thehundred.com/results?year=2024
