Welsh Fire missed a chance to seal their place in the play-offs of The Hundred women’s competition, as Birmingham Phoenix edged a tense contest at Sophia Gardens.
Fire were favourites, needing 16 from the last 10 balls with Hayley Matthews at the crease, but Katie Levick’s two wickets in two balls swung the game in Phoenix’s favour and secured a nine-run win.
Georgia Elwiss fell for 10 and Matthews was caught for 35 before Emily Arlott took two more wickets in a disastrous collapse as the hosts lost four wickets for four runs.
Earlier, Phoenix’s 121-7 was set up by Sterre Kalis’ 55 while Matthews’ 3-32 and Freya Davies’ 2-17 led a disciplined Fire bowling performance.
Fire’s chase ebbed and flowed, with Sophia Dunkley and Matthews leading the recovery from Tammy Beaumont’s early departure for 12 before all-rounder Ellyse Perry took two wickets in two balls – Dunkley for 18 and Sarah Bryce first ball – to stall the home side’s progress.
Matthews and Jess Jonassen, with 28, then looked to be sealing Fire’s qualification before Phoenix’s bowlers fought back, supported by impressive discipline in the field.
A win at Cardiff would have guaranteed Fire a top-three finish but struggling Phoenix kept their slim qualification hopes alive. They need to win their remaining two games comfortably to improve their net run-rate and hope other results go their way.
Source link : https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/c1epllv8q6yo
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Publish date : 2024-08-10 17:06:41
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