Ellyse Perry, the captain of Birmingham Phoenix, led his team to victory as they defeated the Southern Brave by 16 runs at Edgbaston, snapping a 12-game losing streak. Amy Jones hits 51 then takes six catches to keep Brave winless.
Georgia Adams put Phoenix in with a touch of rain in the air, and the innings went well until Tilly Corteen-Coleman, a 16-year-old slow-left armer, struck with her first delivery to send Sophie Devine leg before wicket. Once again, Rhianna Southby delivered a cunning stumping to eliminate Sterre Kalis, which compelled Perry and Amy Jones to huddle together.
After putting up 23 runs for the third wicket, Perry was caught by Maia Bouchier at long-on. With the score at 55 for 3 at the midway point, the Phoenix needed to pick up speed, which they did thanks to Jones and Emily Arlott’s 22 in 12 balls, which included two sixes.
Phoenix reached 137 for 7 thanks to Jones’s half-century, while Lauren Cheatle gave up just 14 runs in her 20 balls.
Following three boundaries from the back-to-back Smriti Mandhana to begin the Brave innings, it was all Perry’s fault. In her first ten deliveries, the legendary player from Australia took three crucial wickets, including Mandhana, Bouchier for a duck, and captain Adams.
Danni Wyatt and Freya Kemp stabilized the ship; the former struck for a characteristically aggressive 33-ball 43, but Charis Pavely removed Kemp, and Hannah Baker forced Wyatt to make a mistake.
With the Phoenix leading 92 for 5 from 69 deliveries, all of their bowlers performed brilliantly, limiting the Brave innings as the needed run-rate increased and the visitors eventually ran out of gas.
“Emily Arlott’s innings was the difference, clearing the fence with ease,” Jones stated. “And Pez had an incredible start. It is a tremendous boost for the club to have someone who can perform like that. We supported the bowlers and played excellent fielding.”
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