London Spirit vs Birmingham Phoenix at London (Lord’s) on 30 August (15h00)
The twenty-second women’s match of ‘The Hundred’ tournament was a ‘must win’ match for Phoenix to qualify for the ‘Play-offs’ – which they failed to do. An extraordinary match unfolded, as Spirit’s memorable four-wicket win knocked Phoenix out of the tournament. Some of the ‘world’s best batters’ on both sides, failed to reach double-figures. POTM match hero Naomi Dattani (pictured) put paid to any thoughts of Phoenix’ rejuvenation, lobbing a ‘sensational’ catch into Alice Monaghan’s hands. Dattani told TV presenter Charles Dagnall that she was ‘glad’ Alice (Monaghan) was there (to receive the catch). Dattani also staged ‘an incredible’ batting partnership scoring 28 runs (from 29 balls, strike rate 96.6); with teenager Grace Scrivens. Following Spirit’s top-order batting collapse, together they posted a seventh wicket partnership of 57 runs from 55 balls. Match was broadcast via SKY Sports YouTube channel – please see below – with Kass Naidoo, Charles Dagnall, Natalie Germanos (Australia), Lydia Greenway, and Darren Gough. Also ESPN-cric-info (Ekanth and Ashish); BBC ’No Balls’ co-hosted by Alex Hartley and other social media. Weather at Lord’s was described as fine.
Phoenix Innings
Skipper Sophie Devine (NZ) Ria Fackrell and Gwenan Davies were playing. *Phoenix needed not only to stay in third-place, but also improve their net-run-rate (with another match result unknown) to improve their chance to qualify for the Play-offs, at the next step of the tournament. *Only two batters made double-figures. Australia’s Sophie Molineux 3(3) was caught at ‘backward point’ by Amelia Kerr from Freya Davies’ first ball. *Australia’s Megan Schutt (2/14) was on a hat-trick when two wickets fell in consecutive balls. *Amy Jones 5(9) was clean-bowled by Schutt. *Next ball fellow Australian Ellyse Perry 0(1) was caught for a golden duck by keeper Beth Mooney – said to be a carbon copy of Perry’s Edgbaston dismissal. *Eve Jones survived Schutt’s hat-trick ball. *After 25 balls power play, Phoenix were 21/3. *Skipper Devine (9) was ‘run out’ at the non-striker’s end by Charlie Dean from mid-wicket, with bowler Grace Scrivens whipping-off the bales.* At mid-way, Phoenix were 41/4. *Another breakthrough came when Georgia Elwiss 14(13) ballooned a catch to Nancy Harman, from Danielle Gibson. *Gibson took a catch at ‘deep-midwicket’ to dismiss Issy Wong (3), from Amelia Kerr (NZ); said to be ‘a huge loss.’ *Top scorer Eve Jones 24(30) was caught by Charlie Dean – diving backwards to take an ‘outstanding’ catch, from Grace Scrivens (1/11.) *Emily Arlott 7(10) was ‘sensationally’ caught as Naomi Dattani who intercepted a ‘six,’ flicking the catch back to Alice Monaghan, from Danielle Gibson (2/12). *Ria Fackrell 2(2) was run-out when scampering for a second run, as Danielle Gibson made an ‘exhibition’ dive, astutely thowing to keeper Beth Mooney ‘who did the rest.’ *Finally, Gwenan Davies (6) lost her balance when finding her top-edge, caught at backward point by Alice Monaghan, from Amelia Kerr (2/17.) *Darren Gough told viewers he’d seen ‘one of the best’ fielding masterclasses in the tournament’s two-year history. *Phoenix chalked-up the ‘fourth-lowest’ score in the women’s tournament. *Overall, having won their first three matches, Phoenix lost their next three.
Spirit Innings
Nancy Harman in.*Skipper Charlie Dean was ‘absolutely outstanding,’ having been ’thrown in at the deep-end.’ *Dean admitted she wasn’t ‘a massive leader;’ but had ‘learned much in a short space of time,’ in Heather Knight’s absence. *Previously, Spirit relied upon on Australia’s Commonwealth Games gold medallist Beth Mooney to make good scores. *It came as a shock when Mooney was ‘run-out.’ *After 11 balls, commentators then described a ‘horror run chase’ with three wickets down, only 2 runs on-the-board; and 81 runs still required. *Firstly, Danielle Gibson (0) and secondly, Beth Mooney (1) were both ‘run-out.’ *Skipper Devine scored a direct-hit at the stumps. *Thirdly Amelia Kerr was caught by Eve Jones from Emily Arlott. *Having suffered a carbon copy batting collapse, Spirit were close behind at the power play: 11/3 (vs 21/3.) Sophie Luff 8(14) was caught from a leading-edge by Ellyse Perry ‘with ease,’ from Emily Arlott (2/9.) *Skipper Charlie Dean 6(13) played-on to Georgia Elwiss, (said to be ‘over the moon’) *Drinks were taken on 21/5. TV pundits switched-sides, predicting Phoenix to win. *Alice Monaghan was bowled ‘straight-through-the-gate.’ *POTM Naomi Dattani partnered by Grace Scrivens, together posted 57 runs. In a tight finish, they scampered the winning 2 runs from the 97th ball with 3 balls remaining.
Summary
As mentioned above, it was an extraordinary scene as the bottom-of-the-table underdogs defeated their third-placed opponents. Some of the ‘world’s best batters’ failed to ‘stand-up’ (to their reputations to score runs.) As mentioned above, Match hero Naomi Dattani  took a spectacular catch, lobbed inside the boundary to Alice Monaghan to complete the catch. With the bat, Dattani, partnered by Grace Scrivens, staged a ‘brilliant comeback’ to see Spirit home – proving TV pundits completely wrong. After the match, Spirit’s skipper Charlie Dean said that she was pleased that Naomi Dattani ‘got her opportunity’ today; (to show what she could do) and the ‘immense’ crowd helped. Darren Gough said that Spirit’s catching and ‘team-work’ was ‘first-class.’ Lydia Greenway added that finishing the tournament with a win should give Spirit added confidence for next year’s tournament. Spirit finish in 7th place with their second win. Presenter Charles Dagnall signed-off with: ‘What a day we’ve had!’
Result: London Spirit Women 8/6 beat Birmingham Phoenix Women 82/10; by 4 wickets with 3 balls remaining
Phoenix batting: 82/10 (94/100 balls@0.87 runs-per-over); Eve Jones 24(30), Georgia Elwiss 14(13); Spirit bowling: Danielle Gibson 2/12, Megan Schutt 2/14, Amelia Kerr 2/17, Freya Davies 1/8, Grace Scrivens 1/11; Fow 1-10, 2-15, 3-15, 4-32, 5-57, 6-64, 7-69, 8-73, 9-76, 10-82. Spirit batting: 83/6 (97/100 balls@0.85 runs-per-over target 83 from 100); Naomi Dattani 28*(29), Grace Scrivens 26*(30); Phoenix bowling: Emily Arlott 2/9, Georgia Elwiss 2/20, Sophie Molineux 1/11, Ria Fackrell 1/19; Fow 1-1, 2-2, 3-2, 4-20, 5-21, 6-26;
Scorecard & Statistics at URL: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/the-hundred-women-s-competition-2022-1299144/london-spirit-women-vs-birmingham-phoenix-women-22nd-match-1299166/full-scorecard
Match highlights free-to-air from SKY Sports YouTube [11m36] at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuDHXcL9Jlc
Match video free-to-air from SKY Sports YouTube [32m20/03h28m05s] at URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmgk6XKtGHI
