Report: Birmingham Phoenix Women v Northern Superchargers

Birmingham Phoenix Women maintained their perfect start to The Hundred with a five-run win over Northern Superchargers at Edgbaston. 

It’s three wins out of three now for Phoenix after a stroke-laden 48 from Amy Jones, who hit nine of the 28 balls she faced for four, lifted them to a testing 153 for four despite Alice Davidson-Richards’ impressive three for 30. 

Superchargers’ reply then ran into a superb spell from Sophie Molineux. The Aussie slow left-armer bowled her first two sets without conceding a run and returned to remove the dangerous Alyssa Healy (46, 28 balls) on the way to figures of two for 11 from 20 balls as the visitors finished on 148 for five. 

Superchargers chose to bowl but Phoenix started strongly as Eve Jones and Sophie Devine batted purposefully to add 37 from 23 balls. Devine (19, 11 balls) had just stepped on the gas, with a four and a six from successive balls from Davidson-Richards, when she lifted the next to Laura Wolvaardt at deep square leg.  

It proved an isolated early breakthrough as second-wicket pair Amy and Eve Jones added 67 in 43 balls before the latter lifted Katie Levick to extra cover. Amy Jones played some sparkling strokes to advance to within two of a deserved half-century before Davidson-Richards lured her into sending up a leading edge to extra. 

Molineux kept the momentum high with a well-struck 24 (13 balls) before she was bowled by Davidson-Richards. The Superchargers were hindered by the loss of Beth Langston, who fell in the delivery stride of her 15th ball and limped off the field, and an unbeaten 22 from the consistent Ellyse Perry (who averages 119 in this year’s competition) assured Phoenix a challenging total. 

The Superchargers’ reply started in curious fashion as Molineux delivered ten balls with conceding a run at one end, but 40 came from the first 15 balls at the other as Healy climbed into Izzy Wong and Geirgia Elwiss. Healy hit seven fours and a six and was threatening to win the game single-handed until Molineux returned to have her smartly stumped by Amy Jones. 

Gaby Lewis, who had been the quieter partner in an opening stand of 68 from 45 balls, fell three balls later to a superb catch at deep mid-wicket by Gwenan Davies off Abtaha Maqsood. When Emily Arlott trapped Beth Heath lbw, three wickets had fallen for 12 balls in 15 balls and two runs per ball were needed from the last seven sets.  

Wolvaart (32, 24 balls) and Hollie Armitage (31,20), assisted by some untidy fielding, had a real good go but a skilful set by Wong cranked the equation up to 27 needed from ten balls. Molineux returned to have Wolvaart caught at deep mid-wicket, Armitage heaved Elwiss to the same position and Phoenix’s 100 per cent record was safe.