Birmingham Phoenix Women remain at the bottom of the Women’s Hundred table after winning only one game this season. Against London Spirit, the Phoenix had to suffer a 32-run defeat following a woeful batting display.
Spirit jolted but recover
Batting first, Spirit were jolted by Fatima Sana’s new-ball spell. In her first ten-ball set, Fatima conceded only five runs while sending Grace Garris for a duck. In fact, she would have ended Garris’ stay on the first delivery of the innings with a bit of luck.
The delivery went on to thump Garris on the pads, but the umpire turned down Fatima’s enthusiastic appeal. While the Phoenix did not go for a review, replays later showed umpire’s call on the ball hitting leg stump. In total, Fatima conceded 25 runs in 20 balls and was the only bowler besides Alana King and Alice Capsey to dismiss a batter. Interestingly, besides a bowled by King, Fatima was a part of all the other three dismissals, having taken one catch each off King and Capsey/
Spirit ended the innings by setting Phoenix a 141-run target, taking the game more firmly in their favour in the final ten balls, which fetched them 37 runs. This included a 21-run set from Capsey, which further lowered Phoenix’s spirits after Linsey Smith dropped a sitter.
Phoenix batting falls flat
Phoenix did not seem in any hurry during the chase. It took them eight balls to hit their first boundary. Regular fall of wickets paired with slow run-scoring proved fatal. Barring Emma Lamb, Capsey and Fatima, all of the batters struck below a strike rate of 120. Eventually, Phoenix could only reach 108 as they ran out of balls.
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