Tue 17 August, 15:00
Report: Northern Superchargers v Birmingham Phoenix Women
Eve Jones hit a superb 64 and the Birmingham Phoenix later held their nerve defending 148 to claim the honours in their winner takes all women’s Hundred clash with Northern Superchargers, qualifying for Friday’s Eliminator tie.
Opener Jones underpinned the Phoenix’s 147 for four before Superchargers captain Lauren Winfield-Hill matched her to put the hosts on course at 97 for one after 60 balls on a superb Emerald Headingley pitch.
But the third-placed Superchargers slipped to 133 for six to lose for the fourth game running and allow the buoyant Phoenix to leapfrog them from fifth in the table with a third straight win.
They will now face Oval Invincibles at the Oval in Friday’s effective semi-final following this 14-run win.
Following seven boundaries in the contest’s first 10 balls – 28 for one – five of them for captain Amy Jones, the Phoenix’s other Jones built on the early momentum and faced 47 balls.
Amy Jones hit six fours in 24 before slapping a full toss from the left-arm spin of Linsey Smith to mid-on – 33 for two after 15.
Left-handed Eve Jones hit the first of her three sixes down the ground off Central Sparks team-mate Liz Russell as the score reached 74 for two after 50.
The Superchargers improved during the second 50 balls, with spinners Smith and Katie Levick sharing three wickets.
Jones, aged 29, reached her second Hundred fifty off 39 balls shortly before falling off the 95th ball, caught at long-off, off Levick’s leg-spin.
Winfield-Hill reached her fifty off 29 balls shortly before the halfway mark in the innings, where the Superchargers reached at 79 for one with 69 more required.
But Issy Wong had Winfield-Hill brilliantly caught at short third by Eve Jones – 97 for two after 61 – to spark the revival.
Leg-spinner Abtaha Maqsood had Wolvaardt caught for 32 before Emily Arlott yorked the big hitting Australian Laura Kimmince and Kirstie Gordon got Alice Davidson-Richards stumped – 119 for five after 89.
Wong struck again as she comfortably defended 22 off the last five balls, finishing with two for 24.
