Wed 4 August, 15:30
Report: Birmingham Phoenix Women v Oval Invincibles
Birmingham Phoenix suffered another narrow loss at Edgbaston as Oval Invincibles got home with three balls to spare.
Invincibles captain Dane van Niekirk led from the front with bat and ball as her side recorded their third victory of the campaign.
An excellent bowling performance by the Invincibles restricted the Phoenix to 129 for nine. Only Erin Burns (45, 28 balls) found any fluency against a well-directed attack in which van Niekerk took two for 16 from 20 balls, Danielle Griggs one for 18 from 15 and Tash Farrant three for 23 from 20.
The Invincibles then reached 133 for two with three balls to spare, powered by an opening stand of 90 between van Niekerk (67 not out, 51 balls) and Georgia Adams (42, 30).
The Invincibles then reached 133 for two with three balls to spare, powered by an opening stand of 90 between van Niekerk (67 not out, 51 balls) and Georgia Adams (42, 30).
Phoenix chose to bat but struggled at the start as Shafali Verma (16, 16 balls) fell to Eva Gray and skipper Amy Jones was stumped by Sarah Bryce off van Niekerk.
Burns took the attack to the Invincibles and struck seven on the way to scoring 45 out of the next 59 runs but then attacked Gregory once too often and sent up a catch to Grace Gibbs. It was left to Issy Wong, Gwenan Davies and Kirstie Gordon to eke the total upwards with a combined 33 from 25 balls.
The Invincibles’ reply was launched in impressive fashion by Adams and van Niekerk. The latter hit four of her first ten balls for four and when Adams hoisted Abtaha Maqsood to the long off boundary, the opening stand had passed 50 in 41 balls.
Dropped catches added to the Phoenix woes and Adams was reprieved twice on the way to 42 with five fours and a six before she chipped Gordon to extra cover and a catch finally stuck.
It was far too late to affect the result though, as van Niekerk passed 50 in 40 balls and her side eased home with three balls to spare.
