Ellyse Perry, Sophie Devine guide Birmingham Phoenix to a clinical victory

Birmingham Phoenix secured a 19-run victory over the Welsh Fire in Match 4 of The Hundred Women's competition on Saturday (13 August) at Sophia Gardens. 

Devine during her gritty knock of 48

Invited to bat first, Phoenix lost Evelyn Jones and Amy Jones early. However, skipper Sophie Devine and Ellyse Perry were flawless with their ball-striking capabilities. To add to that, Perry was playing her first competitive match after April. 

The duo added 46 runs for the third wicket, before Devine was dismissed for a well-compiled 48 off 25 balls. Perry continued her onslaught and stitched an 82 run-stand with Sophie Molineux. 

The Aussie all-rounder was the top-scorer with 58 off 31, while Molineux remained unbeaten on a run-a-ball 29 to help the team in posting a total of 161 on the board. 

Welsh Fire shows promise, but fall short

Chasing a big total, the experienced openers of Fire, Tammy Beaumont and Hayley Matthews got the team off to a quick start. However, Abtaha Maqsood broke the 47-run stand by dismissing Hayley Matthews (20). 

Soon Rachael Haynes made her way back to the hut for 12 off seven deliveries. Then, the duo of Beaumont and Annabel Sutherland showed promise, but the former was soon dismissed for 39. 

Although Sutherland threatened the opposition, the talented George Elwiss made her holed out to her Australian team-mate Perry for 34 off 21. 

In the end, Fire could accumulate only 142 runs in their designated quota of overs.  Phoenix won the game by 19 runs and took the third position in the table. 

Brief Scores

Birmingham Phoenix Women: 161/5 (100b)

Ellyse Perry 58 (31), Sophie Devine 48 (25);
Claire Nicholas 2/26

Welsh Fire Women: 142/5 (100b)

Tammy Beaumont 39 (34), Annabel Sutherland 34 (21);
George Elwiss 2/29

Birmingham Phoenix Women won by 19 runs.

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