Time to wrap up this coverage, folks! A brilliant bowling display from Birmingham Phoenix Women helped them defend 111 runs and break the 5-match losing streak. We hope you enjoyed our coverage. For now, it's me, Deepak Prakash, signing off on behalf of co-commentators Arjun Bhalla, Saptak Sanyal, and scorer/analyst Paras Yadav. Good Night! 💤
Sterre Kalis (Hero of the Match): "It was obviously a tough start; the pitch was doing quite a bit. When I got in, it was a tough situation because we'd lost some early wickets. I think the wicket was on the trickier side, but the partnership with Pez (Ellyse Perry) was a crucial one, setting the tone with the bat. In the end, it was a brilliant win.
Look, we had to play really good cricket to defend a low-ish total, and we knew early wickets were going to be key and we got them. She helped me quite a lot. It was a fine bowling effort by our bowlers too. Cheers!"
Hero of the Match: Sterre Kalis
9:39 PM IST, 5:09 PM Local Time: Horrible batting display from Manchester Originals Women, as they fell like ninepins and were folded for 95 runs in pursuit of a paltry 111 runs, losing the match by 16 runs. Good bowling from Birmingham Phoenix Women, and with this win, they break their 5-match losing streak.
Earlier, after opting to bat first, Birmingham Phoenix Women managed 111/3 in their 100 balls. The innings began on a shaky note as Georgia Voll (0), Emma Lamb (6), and Amy Jones (2) departed cheaply, leaving the side in early trouble. Ellyse Perry and Sterre Kalis then steadied the innings with a cautious stand, rotating the strike and ensuring the scoreboard kept moving. However, the Manchester Originals’ bowlers maintained tight lines and lengths, restricting boundaries and denying the pair the chance to set the tone for a big total. With runs hard to come by, Phoenix looked headed for a modest finish. Perry, though, shifted gears in the closing phase, striking timely boundaries to lift the momentum. She brought up a well-compiled half-century, finishing unbeaten on 55 from 48 balls, while Kalis remained not out on 43 off 39. Their partnership helped Phoenix push past the 100-run mark, a score that once seemed unlikely. Mahika Gaur shone with the ball for Manchester Originals, giving away just 5 runs in her 15 deliveries and claiming a wicket, while Sophie Ecclestone and Deandra Dottin chipped in with a wicket apiece as well. In reply, Manchester Originals Women got off to the worst possible start as they lost both their openers, Beth Mooney and Kathryn Bryce, for a duck and continued to lose wickets in clusters. They were reeling at 31/5 in 46 balls. The Phoenix bowlers kept chipping in with timely wickets and skittled the hosts to a paltry 95 runs in 100 balls. It was a poor batting display from the Manchester Originals Women as Seren Smale (29), Deandra Dottin (13), and Lauren Filer (19*) were the only batters to score in double digits. Megan Schutt starred with the ball for Phoenix as the pacer bagged three crucial wickets and conceded just 14 runs in her 20-ball spell. Phoebe Brett, Em Arlott, and Hannah Baker celebrated one wicket each.
1W Is that a run out....yes it is! On a length at off-stump. 64 mph. Gaur chips towards deep mid wicket. They take the first run and they look to convert it into a double. But a quick throw means Mahika gets run out at the striker's end! With that, the Birmingham Phoenix beat the Manchester Originals by 16 runs!
99b Arlott to M Gaur
2 Too full at leg-stump. Gaur drills towards deep mid wicket. They take the first run hard and then come back for the second.