Birmingham Phoenix discs got their first hundred wins against Manchester Originals Cricket News

Spinners Kirstie Gordon and Abtaha Maqsood took five gates with each other as Birmingham Phoenix beat Manchester Originals in 20 laps to break a hundred ducks.

The story of the match

The Manchester Originals spinners tied Phoenix in the knots when they decided to hit first. Alex Hartley, Emma Lamb and Sophie Ecclestone limited them to 113 – the lowest one to date.

The Lamb finished 3-16 and Ecclestone 2-14, Amy Jones (31 of 17 balls) and Gwen Davies – who did 20 out of 17 despite retreating to cramps and briefly calling the runner – to seize the conditions.

However, all the Originals could do, Birmingham spinners were able to do just as well – or better – and the swivel gate, slow field and long boundaries ensured that the Home Team had a hard time painting.

Left-back fighter Kirstie Gordon, who detached both Manchester openers, finished 3-14, while Abtaha Maqsood’s 20 balls went just 14 and brought him two wicks.

Harmanpreet Kaur fought sensibly out of the invincible 49 of 47, but with the exception of 42 shares with Ellie Threlkeld, the Originals had no partnerships and had just under 93.

A MASSIVE MOMENT

Despite the crumbling interior around him, Phoenix captain Amy Jones was in an embarrassing wind, threatening to beat her side back into the race with 31 strokes out of 17.

But he misjudged the flight from Sophie Ecclestone and was pure bowling by gaining momentum for his English teammate, which swept more or less Phoenix’s hopes of investing in the 120-130 range – not that it ultimately mattered!

MATCH HERO

Gordon set the tone for the second inning, fired the Lamb’s leg earlier with his fourth ball, and then removed the dangerous three deliveries of Lizelle Lee later to make the home camp nervous.

The spinner was supported by the rest of the fixed Birmingham bowling unit, which ensured that the originals could never get a grip on their fruitless offer to chase down 114.

CATCH CATCH

Not content to take two early gates to the liners of the originals, Gordon was also a significant hand in the third – or more precisely in both hands.

He ran from behind the deck as Georgie Boyce chased a wide ball from Issy Wong and got the top edge, directing himself into place to take the dive latch over his shoulder.

SPECIAL SHIPMENT

The greater part Emma Lamb20 deliveries were in place, but her first was perhaps a bunch that turned outside the stump and pulled Emily Arlott out of her fold.

Wicketkeeper Threlkeld did the rest, whipping from behind as the Originals maintained pressure by picking up gates at regular intervals.

Phoenix spinner Maqsood also deserves a mention of a similar delivery that chained Mignon du Preez later in the game when the Originals batter was stuck when Amy Jones took over.

WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

With Phoenix quickly running out of balls, Issy Wong fired a desperate slogan at Kate Cross – just to lose both her turn and her bat.

The bat flew away in the direction of the midwife as the ball sailed in the opposite direction to Lizee Lee’s waiting hands, leaving Wong the sheep to pick up his wicker stick before hastily leaving.

Manchester Originals coach Paul Shaw:

“We were disappointed that we didn’t win in the oval, and today was again a game we should have won. It was a challenging field, but we should have gotten over the line and we are bitterly disappointed.

“Our spinners bowled really well, but I felt like we still let maybe 20 run away. To be honest with the game, the opponent bowled better than us and maybe better than us, especially at the limits of their sweepers.

“It was hard for us to cross boundaries and a fair game for Phoenix – they bowled well and took the pace off the ball, but turning them into two is definitely something we need to improve, as is crossing boundaries.”

Birmingham Phoenix Kirstie Gordon:

“It’s really important for us to get our first win at the table and in a race where games are thick and fast, it’s important to get up and run – hopefully we can move on from here.

“We were a few driving lightly, so we needed a good start, and I’m glad I can help the team with it. It was a low score, but it was a used field, and I think that’s probably the reason for it.

“The field was important and we ran our twin well, which helped pick up a few runs early and Katie Mack was exceptional for us at the border.”

WHAT NEXT?

We’re back at Trent Bridge on Monday with another exciting double title Rockets hosting Northern superchargers.

The women’s teams collide at 3pm, the men’s matches start at 6pm.

Monday, July 26, 2:30 p.m.

Monday, July 26, 6 p.m.

Check out both games at Sky Sports The Hundred and Main Event as well Sky Sports Cricket YouTube channel.

Watch The Hundred live on Sky Sports this summer!