Birmingham Phoenix got off the bottom of the league and won their first game of the season at Edgbaston, defeating Welsh Fire with one ball remaining thanks to the heroics of Ellyse Perry.
After sharing a wonderful third-wicket partnership of 86 with Alice Capsey (51 off 29), Perry finished 68 not out from 46 balls. At the end, he smashed Heather Graham for 10 in two balls to send Phoenix home.
Georgia Voll’s strong knock of 78 from 55 balls earlier in the game was the cornerstone of the Fire innings and gave Birmingham Phoenix a goal of 145.
Voll put her foot down after the powerplay got off to a poor start and she and Ella McCaughan increased the score to a run-a-ball 25 for 0. Before reaching her half-century with a maximum off Eva Grey, she initially challenged Alana King and Linsey Smith’s spin.
After hitting nine fours and two sixes overall, Voll was caught by Capsey at long-on off Smith on the 91st ball of the inning.
After that, Sophie Devine took charge and brought everything to a spectacular conclusion. The formidable Kiwi finished 35 not out from 18 balls and helped the visitors reach a score of 144 for 3 after clearing the ropes twice in the final six balls, first off Smith and then King.
With part-owner Jude Bellingham watching, Phoenix was looking for their first win of the season, but their quest didn’t get off to the ideal start as they lost to Georgia Wareham at point when Davina Perrin sliced Potts on the fourth ball.
After the powerplay, Tammy Beaumont and Capsey increased the score to 33 for 1, but Beaumont was quickly dismissed by Phoenix when she holed out to deep midwicket off Wareham’s legspin.
Ellyse Perry, the captain, joined Capsey and returned the attack to the Fire bowlers. After reaching their 50 partnership from 30 balls, they started to release their arms as they raced in the direction of their aim.
With a record chase in sight and Phoenix’s first in 14 attempts, the game appeared to be in the hosts’ hands. However, Capsey fell with 24 remaining, and the nerves started to fray. After joining Ellyse Perry and withstanding some early pressure, Annerie Dercksen passed the ball to the legendary Australian player, who hit two late boundaries to give Phoenix a well-earned maiden victory and leave Welsh Fire with nothing left to do to advance in the competition.
“It is lovely to have the win at home, amazing atmosphere here today,” stated Ellyse Perry, the Meerkat Match Hero.
We did a fairly good job of limiting the Fire there with our bowling, and we simply timed it to cross the finish line, in my opinion. As a group, we’ve had a great time, but the results haven’t been there for us. It was a pleasant challenge and yet another exciting opportunity today. Partnerships are essential, and Alice batted brilliantly today. to be able to go deep and have a shot in the last ten. The competition was fantastic.
