Surrey (women) v Birmingham Bears (women) (match 53 – league one stand alone fixture) London (South) at The Kia Oval (Kennington) on Friday 18 July 2025 (18h30 with floodlights)
Friday Finale became a ‘dress rehearsal’ for the competition’s semi-finals – albeit that third-placed Bears women would need to beat The Blaze who stand-in-the-way of playing Surrey women in the final. Crucial 24-ball ‘fifty’ innings by Surrey’s keeper Kira Chathli [65runs(from31 balls)] included five ’sixes,’ compared to Bears collective total of three ’sixes;’ until caught by Laura Harris. Separately, it did not go unnoticed that neither ‘guest Australian – both from Brisbane Heat’ Harris sister got to bowl (i.e.: Bear’s Laura or Surrey’s Grace.) Post-match, top-scorer Kira Chathli – pictured lauded POTM Alice Monaghan [24(18) & 2/32)] for her positive attitude and was thankful for her high standard when fielding – taking two ‘brilliant diving’ catches, that reporters felt ‘balanced out’ the two catches ‘that (Surrey women) put down.’ Commentary: Cameron ‘Cam’ Ponsonby (Sports journalist) with Katya Whitney (Wisden publishers) and guest player Kirstie White (Invincibles women.) Also with Sam ‘K’ (pitch-side.)
Surrey women wearing light-blue tops over black with black helmets; *skipper Bryony Smith; *[Nat Wraith keeping wicket for Bears] with *with international player Grace Harris (Australia) *without Alice Davidson-Richards, Sophia Dunkley or Danni Wyatt-Hodge (England international call-up); *Bryony Smith was bowled ‘top-of-off-stump’ by Amu Surenkumar’s ‘slower ball;’ *Power-play (6 overs) score 59/1; *Mid-way (10 overs) 115/1; *Scoring ‘fifty,’ Kira Chathli who hit five ‘sixes’ was caught at ‘long-on’ by Laura Harris from Amu Surenkumar; *Grace Harris was caught at ‘cow corner’ by Davina Perrin, from Georgia Davis coming round-the-wicket; *Alice Monaghan was caught-and-bowled by Millie Taylor; *Paige Scholfield was caught at ‘long-on by Meg Austin from Amu Surenkumar; Surrey women batting: Kira Chathli65(31), Grace Harris37(25), Alice Monaghan24(18), Bryony Smith20(12), Kalea Moore 17*not out(15), Paige Scholfield15(12); Bears women bowling: Amu Surenkumar 3/33, Millie Taylor 1/29, Georgia Davis 1/36;
Bears women wearing ’sky’ blue diamond cheque with yellow trim over dark blue; with yellow helmets and black caps; *skipper Georgia Davis *[Kira Chathli keeping wicket for Surrey] *with international players Laura Harris (Australia) & Sterre Kalis (NL); *without Emily ‘Em’ Arlott or Charis Pavely (England international call-up); Meg Austin was caught aerial at ‘backward point’ by Kalea Moore, from Priyanaz Chatterji; *Davina Perrin was caught aerial at ‘long-off’ by Grace Harris, from Kalea Moore; *Sterre Kalis was caught behind by keeper Kira Chathli, from Priyanaz Chatterji; *Power-play (6 overs) score 39/3 (vs 59/1); *Issy Wong was caught at ‘mid-wicket’ by Grace Harris, from Alice Monaghan; *Top-scorer Laura Harris was bowled by Alice Monaghan; *Mid-way (10 overs) 91/5 (vs 115/1); *Nat Wraith was caught at ‘deep mid-wicket, by Alice Monaghan, from Dani Gregory; *Amu Surenkumar was caught aerial at ‘long-off’ by Alice Monaghan, from Priyanaz Chatterji; *Hannah Baker was bowled ‘middle-and-off’ stump by Kalea Moore for a third ball ‘duck;’ *Mis-timing a ‘square-cut,’ Millie Taylor was bowled ‘through-the-gate’ by Kalea Moore; Bears women batting: Laura Harris42(14), Amu Surenkumar36(21), Nat Wraith32(27), Millie Taylor21(15), Issy Wong 16(13); Surrey women bowling: Priyanaz Chatterji 3/23, Kalea Moore 3/38, Alice Monaghan 2/32, Dani Gregory 1/23;
Match result: Surrey (women) 204/5 (@10.2 runs-per-over from 20/20 overs/target 133 from 20/20 ov.) beat Birmingham Bears (women) 179/9 (@8.9 runs-per-over, from 20/20 overs) by 25 runs
*Scorecard with video highlights, courtesy of ECB via nv play at url: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_summary#m906c93a5-204c-4a10-a166-bbe033dc2f3c
*BBC Sport @url: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-225345 & SKY Sports @url: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/surrey-women-v-bears-women/scorecard/6d850bb2-768d-56af-a4ef-d343fd9fe8b2
*Full match free-to-air, courtesy of Surrey CCC/nv play via YouTube [03h05m35s] @url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4Dn1TjJwII
*Upcoming League one fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/06/22/vitality-blast-league-one-fixtures-and-results-to-june-2025/
*Upcoming League two fixtures @url http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2025/07/02/vitality-cup-league-two-fixtures-for-season-2025-2/
Footnote: sources elsewhere found to muddle two dismissals A) Alice Monaghan (c-b Millie Taylor: not (Sic.) ‘picked out by Meg Austin’) and B) Paige Schofield (mis-stated as ‘caught-and-bowled’.) Scorecard says otherwise!
