Report: Northern Supercharger v Birmingham Phoenix Women

Sophie Devine top-scored with 46, but England all-rounder Alice Davidson-Richards stole the show for Northern Superchargers as they beat Birmingham Phoenix by seven wickets.

Davidson-Richards took three wickets for just 11 runs from her 20 balls as well as taking two catches and claiming a brilliant run out in an excellent team display from Superchargers, as they restricted Birmingham Phoenix to a total of 110 for eight off their 100 balls.

Australian Phoebe Litchfield top scored for the home team with an unbeaten 42 as they eased their way to victory with 22 balls to spare with Marie Kelly also adding a valuable 24 at the top of the order.

The visitors had got off to a flying start with New Zealand veteran Devine hitting England’s Kate Cross for two boundaries from her first set of five balls.

But Superchargers quickly pulled things back with Cross claiming the wicket of Eve Jones for 10 before England wicketkeeper Amy Jones became Davidson-Richard’s first victim when she holed out to Leah Dobson on the square leg boundary for 13.

Devine took centre stage throughout the Phoenix innings scoring an entertaining 46 runs off 36 balls before she was superbly run out by Davidson-Richards’ direct hit from mid-off.

The Pheonix middle-order failed to offer any meaningful support to Devine with Erin Burns, Tess Flintoff and Emily Arlott all falling cheaply with Georgia Wareham’s caught and bowled dismissal of Burns a particular highlight.

The hosts were brilliant in the field with Phoenix reliant on late-order runs from Abigail Freeborn and Issy Wong to get them up over the 100 mark, with Wong hitting a mighty six into the crowd at one point before she became Linsey Smith’s one wicket.

Marie Kelly and Jemimah Rodrigues gave the Superchargers an ideal start hitting a partnership of 23 for the first wicket with Rodrigues’ knock of 16 consisting of four boundaries before she was trapped in front by Wong.

Kelly was bowled reverse sweeping by Katie Levick for 24 but Litchfield quickly took charge of the innings as she steered the Superchargers home with an unbeaten 42 off 29 balls including seven fours.

But this was Richardson-David’s day and she completed the win with a towering straight six off Hannah Baker to end an excellent showing by the Superchargers.

Eve Jones, said: “It was disappointing to start like that and I think we were about 30 runs short with the bat. Sophie Devine batted really at the top but we didn’t manage to bat deeper which was really disappointing. 

“They bowled really and shut us down in the middle and (Phoebe) Litchfield batted superbly – it made it really hard for us with the ball and in the field. It was the first game and we now have to make sure we are better throughout the first phase. We didn’t bowl as well as we could’ve but it was lack of runs up front that really cost us. 

“Off field we have spent a few days training together and have had some great sessions – a lot of the girls have played together before so it hasn’t been an issue – it was more about getting here and getting our skills right on the day and we didn’t do that.”