Ellyse Perry’s Birmingham Phoenix remain in the mix as The Hundred reaches the business end after an impressive bowling display helped secure a nine-run win over Welsh Fire at Cardiff.
Defending a score of 7-121, the Phoenix restricted the Fire to 8-112 in the English domestic competition.
Marshalling her attack superbly, Australia star and Phoenix skipper Perry was once again the catalyst, claiming wickets in successive balls to remove Sophie Dunkley and Sarah Bryce after Charis Pavely had early induced a thin edge from Tammy Beaumont.
Those wickets checked the Fire’s progress but from 3-42 Hayley Matthews and Jess Jonassen got together to repair the inning, putting on 46 together.
With 34 needed from 27 balls, leg-spinner Hannah Baker scuttled a straight one past Jonassen’s attempted reverse sweep.
Katie Levick then encouraged Georgia Elwiss to pick out deep mid-off, before returning for the penultimate set of five to claim the key scalp of Matthews for 35.
With 14 needed, a nerveless final set from Emily Arlott secured victory.
The Phoenix’s innings was held together by Netherlands’ Sterre Kalis, who unfurled eight fours en route to her first half-century of the tournament.
Although Matthews(3-42) kept the Phoenix middle-order in check, their total on a turning pitch was just good enough, ensuring they are alive and kicking going into the tournament’s final week.
Kalis said: “Credit to Pez (Perry) early on and then the spinners. It wasn’t the highest total to defend, so the bowlers did an amazing job to restrict them. Two more games to go. A good win for us today and hopefully we can stay in the competition.”
Content Source: www.perthnow.com.au