A clinical performance from the senior pros launched the Birmingham Phoenix campaign in fine style, while the Welsh Fire side looked all at sea in the fourth game of the women’s The Hundred season.
Sophie Devine and Ellyse Perry put in performances that have now become almost expected of them on a regular basis to propel the Phoenix to victory. Devine’s side posted the second-highest total in women’s Hundred history to blow the Welsh Fire out of the way, picking up a convincing 19-run victory. She put in a valuable all-round performance while Aussie veteran Ellyse Perry also scored a wonderful half-century to put her side in the driver’s seat.
Welsh Fire’s English skipper Tammy Beaumont won the toss and decided put the Birmingham side into bat. Birmingham started out in rather circumspect fashion, taking time to settle in, primarily due to the dismissals of Eve Jones and Amy Jones in quick succession.
Perry then joined Devine, who quickly put the innings back on track with some expansive shots. Devine, in particular, peppered the Welsh Fire field, scoring seven boundaries and two maximums in her fluent 25-ball innings. It was only when she was dismissed, however, that the Australian batter took off.
Perry and Sophie Molineux took down the Welsh bowling, as they went at close to eight runs per set to take their side to an excellent total. In the end, the Phoenix finished on 161/5 in their 100 deliveries, the second-highest innings total in the competition’s brief history.
In response, Welsh Fire captain Tammy Beaumont attacked from the outset, along with her opening partner Hayley Matthews, with the duo adding close to 50 runs in the first 30 deliveries. Two quick wickets in the space of 10 balls changed the landscape of the game, but the Welsh Fire fans took solace in the fact that the skipper was still at the crease.
Alas, the positivity did not last much longer, as one too many big shots from the England star meant that Amy Jones claimed a sharp stumping, with Beaumont being dismissed by her counterpart. Despite the massive wicket, it did look like Annabel Sutherland had it in her to take her side over the line, but it wasn’t to be, being dismissed by Georgia Elwiss at a most crucial juncture. Sutherland’s dismissal was the final straw, leading to a Birmingham Phoenix win by 19 runs.
Brief scores
Birmingham Phoenix 161 for 5 (Perry 58, Devine 48) beat Welsh Fire 142 for 5 (Beaumont 39, Elwiss 2-29) by 19 runs
