Originals falter against Phoenix as Rockets stay alive

Old Trafford’s Hundred women’s competition, and Old Trafford

Birmingham Phoenix 111-3 (100 balls): Perry 55* (48), Kalis 43* (39)

Manchester Originals 95 (100 balls): Smale 29 (34), Schutt 3-14

Birmingham Phoenix defeated Birmingham by 16 runs.

After falling to Birmingham Phoenix by 16 runs at Old Trafford, Manchester Originals’ chances of making it to the women’s team were hampered.

The Originals lost four powerplay wickets before being bowled out for 95 in what should have been a routine chase of 112.

After earlier lowering Birmingham Phoenix to 17-3, they were left disappointed that they had missed out on opportunities to dismiss Ellyse Perry and Sterre Kalis, who had combined for an unbeaten 94-run fourth-wicket partnership to avenge a match-winning total.

The Originals, who have never previously advanced beyond the women’s group stage, knew that a top-three finish would come after their final two matches.

The Originals have since lost four points, falling behind London Spirit in terms of net run-rate and trailing second-placed Northern Superchargers by four points in Headingley on Tuesday.

Before Perry and Kalis combined to rebuild their side’s innings, Phoenix lost three wickets in 30 balls, with Georgia Voll, Emma Lamb, and Amy Jones all missing for single-figure knocks and Mahika Gaur taking 1-5 from her 15 powerplay deliveries.

Perry had to have been stumped on eight balls to get her second half-century in as many games. Meanwhile, Alis capitalized on Beth Mooney’s 13-point drop to score 43 (39).

The Originals responded with a terrible start, with Kathryn Bryce needlessly being run out on the third inning. After being caught for a four-ball duck, Megan Schutt (3-14), Alice Monaghan and Melie Kerr both left the batting line with a score of 14-4.

The Originals’ slim chances of winning were lost when the big-hitting Deandra Dottin was caught by Ailsa Lister for 13 on the boundary.

Sophia Gardens, The Hundred women’s competition

Trent Rockets 145-6 (100 balls): Sciver-Brunt 38 (26), Davies 3-26

Welsh Fire 122-9 (100 balls): Dunkley 26 (23), King 3-17

By 23 runs, Trent Rockets won.

Welsh Fire’s 23-run victory over Trent Rockets kept their flimsy qualification hopes alive in the Sophia Gardens women’s competition.

The Rockets are now just four points outside of the top three heading into their final group game against Phoenix on Wednesday, combined with the defeat of the Manchester Originals.

Rockets successfully defended a close call at 145-6 while Fire, who had already lost, struggled to find partners in their 122-9 reply.

They were perplexed by the world-class spinners Ash Gardner and Alana King, both of whom took five wickets each.

With 3-17, Leg-spinner King seized control and turn from the Cardiff surface, while Gardner’s relentless accuracy saw her smash the key wickets of Hayley Matthews and Sophia Dunkley.

With 20 balls left, the Rockets were set for a formidable total of 120-2, but Fire regained some control as both set batters dropped in six balls, Sciver-Brunt scoring 38 and Gardner finishing with 36.

At the end of the third ball, Freya Davies took two wickets in two balls, but despite their strong fightback, the result was far too much for a batting line-up that had had a difficult campaign.

London Spirit will need to beat Oval Invincibles at 15:00 BST to increase their top-three hopes in the women’s competition, which is a crucial day for them as they aim to do so.

At 18:30 BST, Invincibles has already confirmed a spot in the knockouts, and Spirit has already left.