That’s all we have from the Rose Bowl! Southern Brave continue their incredible run in the tournament, extending their winning streak both overall and on home soil. Birmingham Phoenix, meanwhile, are still searching for their first victory of the season after another disappointing outing.
For now, this is Pritam Dey signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Akshay Bhide who, along with scorer/analyst Manish Bishnoi brought all the actions of this clash. Stay tuned for more cricketing action from around the world. BYE BYE👋
Lizelle Lee (Hero of the Match): "[Mel Jones said you will have a good day with the bat today. Is she the reason behind you winning this award?] Yeah, she has covered every game we have played now. Just have to make sure that I have a chat with her.
[On the conditions] It was better to bat against the new ball. As the ball got softer, it got difficult to bat. Jemi found some crucial boundaries in the end.
[On winning four games in a row] Our bowlers are not getting enough credit. They have got us out of tough situations and they did that today again. I think it's just sticking to your guns and sticking to the basics.
[What has been the key to success for them this season?] Everybody is gelling well. With Sophie Molineux there as a captain, there is a calm presence on the field and it is rubbing off on everybody."
Hero of the Match: Lizelle Lee
10:12 PM IST & 5:42 PM Local Time: Southern Brave have produced an absolute masterclass to seal a thrilling 24-run victory at the Ageas Bowl. They held their nerve brilliantly under pressure, especially in the crucial stages of the chase, to keep the fortress intact.
Earlier in the day, Southern Brave, after being put into bat, made a confident start to their innings. Lizelle Lee looked in magnificent touch right from the outset and was the key architect behind the hosts' strong beginning. Alongside Maia Bouchier, she dominated the powerplay as Southern Brave raced to 44/0 after the first 25 balls. The opening partnership grew into a valuable 68-run stand before Alice Capsey finally provided the breakthrough shortly after the strategic timeout, dismissing Lizelle Lee for a well-made 43. At the halfway stage of the innings, Southern Brave were well placed at 68/1.
Maia Bouchier played an equally important hand, producing a fluent 43 off 28 balls. As the innings progressed, Jemimah Rodrigues added the finishing touches with a valuable unbeaten cameo of 28 off 18 balls, ensuring Southern Brave maintained the momentum in the closing stages. The hosts finished strongly, collecting 14 runs from the final set of the innings to give their total a significant boost. Southern Brave ended with a competitive 140/3 from their 100 balls.
In reply, Birmingham Phoenix made a cautious start in the chase, with Davina Perrin looking the more fluent batter as she scored the majority of the runs during the Powerplay. Southern Brave’s bowlers kept things tight and prevented the batters from finding momentum, with Phoenix reaching 27/0 after 25 balls. However, the openers soon shifted gears, finding boundaries more regularly to take their side to 66/0 at the halfway stage. Southern Brave were left frustrated after dropping three chances in the first half of the innings, allowing the Phoenix openers to build a strong foundation.
Tilly Corteen-Coleman eventually broke the 73-run opening stand by dismissing Tammy Beaumont for 22, but Perrin continued to punish the missed opportunities and brought up a superbfifty off 40 balls. Her dismissal for 52 off 43 deliveries with Phoenix needing 54 from the final 30 balls turned the game decisively in Southern Brave’s favour.
Ellyse Perry (16* off 11) was left with a tough task of chasing 39 from the final 15 balls, but the Brave bowlers held their nerve brilliantly at the death, picking up wickets and executing their plans perfectly to defend the total by 24 runs. Southern Brave continued their winning run, while Birmingham Phoenix are still searching for their first victory of the tournament. Stay tuned for the Post-Match Presentation!
0 Big swing and a miss. A dot to end the contest! Slower ball, on a length around leg. 51 mph. Fatima steps out and swings her bat across the line, gets beaten on the outside edge to the keeper. Yet another commanding performance from Southern Brave as register a 24-run win here at The Rose Bowl.
99b Lauren Bell to Fatima Sana
4 FOUR RUNS! Nicely played by Fatima Sana. Slower ball, full and wide outside off. Fatima steps out, reaches for it and crunches it through the covers for a boundary.
98b Lauren Bell to Ellyse Perry
1 Short ball around fourth stump. 53 mph. Perry pulls it away to wide long on for just a single.