Cricket

Birmingham Phoenix, led by captain Ellyse Perry, broke their losing streak with a thrilling 16-run victory over Southern Brave at Edgbaston. Despite losing the toss and being put in to bat, Phoenix posted a competitive 137 for 7, thanks to a half-century from Amy Jones and a cameo from Emily Arlott.Perry's brilliance continued with the ball, as she claimed three crucial wickets in her opening spell, including Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Adams. Danni Wyatt and Freya Kemp attempted to steady the Brave innings, but Charis Pavely and Hannah Baker chipped away at their batting lineup.With the required run rate climbing and the Brave running out of steam, Phoenix's bowlers maintained their discipline, throttling the opposition's scoring. Arlott's innings, which included two sixes, proved to be the difference, according to Jones."Emily Arlott's innings was the difference, clearing the fence with ease," Jones said. "And Pez's start was unbelievable. When you have someone like that, who can deliver such performances, it is a huge lift for the team. We were really good in the field and backed up the bowlers."

Birmingham Phoenix finally broke their 12-match losing streak in The Hundred with a thrilling three-run victory over Trent Rockets at Trent Bridge. Australian star Ellyse Perry played a pivotal role for Phoenix, shining with both bat and ball.Phoenix opted to bat first and got off to a steady start with Sophie Devine and Sterre Kalis forming a 32-run opening partnership. However, Alana King provided the breakthrough for Rockets, dismissing Devine for 17. Perry then joined Kalis at the crease and accelerated the scoring rate.Perry played a blistering knock of 66 from just 34 balls, hitting 11 fours and four sixes. Her partnership with Kalis yielded 102 runs from 60 balls, setting a competitive target of 139 for Rockets.In the chase, Rockets lost early wickets, with Perry dismissing Scrivens and taking a brilliant catch to remove Bryony Smith. Nat Sciver-Brunt looked in fine form, reaching her sixth half-century in The Hundred. However, the dismissals of Ash Gardner and Sciver-Brunt brought Phoenix back into the game.Rockets needed 27 runs from the last 10 balls, and Heather Graham gave them hope with a flurry of boundaries. However, Phoenix held their nerve, with Graham falling short by two runs on the final ball.Perry, who was named Meerkat Match Hero, expressed her delight at the victory. "We played with a lot of spirit today and it's nice to get over the line in a tight one," she said. "The total felt defendable, but they chased well. To hold our nerve at the end was awesome."

London Spirit emerged victorious in a thrilling encounter against Birmingham Phoenix at Lord's, securing a 20-run victory. Meg Lanning, the Australian captain, played a pivotal role for Spirit, scoring her maiden half-century in the Hundred.The match witnessed a crowd of 16,641, marking the fifth-highest attendance in the history of the women's Hundred. The contest was fiercely competitive, with both teams showcasing their strengths.Phoenix, despite their previous struggles, threatened to pull off an upset. Ellyse Perry, the Australian all-rounder, played a valiant innings of 65, while Sophie Devine, the New Zealand captain, contributed 37 runs.However, Spirit's bowling attack proved too strong, with Sarah Glenn claiming three crucial wickets in the final overs. Glenn's performance sealed the victory for Heather Knight's side, who now boast a perfect 2-0 record in the tournament.Lanning, reflecting on the match, acknowledged the challenges faced by her team. "The wicket was conducive to taking the pace off the ball, making it difficult for us," she said. "But we adjusted our strategy and bowled straight at the stumps, which ultimately paid off."Earlier, Spirit had set a competitive total of 147 for 9. Lanning led the charge with a well-crafted 53, while Georgia Redmayne and Cordelia Griffith also made significant contributions.Phoenix's chase began promisingly, with Perry and Devine forming a formidable partnership. However, the required run rate proved too demanding, and Spirit's bowlers maintained their composure to secure the victory.

Ellyse Perry, the Australian all-rounder, will lead Birmingham Phoenix in the upcoming Women's Hundred season. Perry was initially set to captain the team last year but was ruled out due to injury.Perry's return to Edgbaston is a significant boost for Phoenix, who finished bottom of the table in 2023. The 33-year-old is a highly experienced and decorated player, having represented Australia in over 300 international matches.In the recent Women's Premier League (WPL), Perry was the leading run-scorer for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, amassing 347 runs at an average of 69.40. She also claimed seven wickets, showcasing her all-round abilities.Perry's leadership qualities have been evident in her role as captain of Sydney Sixers in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL). She became the first player to lead a team in 100 WBBL matches."I'm incredibly honored to be named Birmingham Phoenix captain," said Perry. "It's a wonderful club that means a lot to me. I'm looking forward to joining the whole playing squad and working towards a successful season."Meanwhile, defending champions Southern Brave have appointed Georgia Adams as their new captain following Anya Shrubsole's retirement. Adams, who led Southern Vipers to a domestic double last year, is excited to take on the role."It's a privilege to be taking over from Anya," said Adams. "I'm super excited to get going and really looking forward to leading a fantastic group of players and trying to defend the trophy."In the Men's Hundred, James Vince will continue to lead Southern Brave, having guided the team to victory in the inaugural season.

Australia will host England in a historic four-day pink-ball women's Ashes Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in January 2025. This match will mark the 90th anniversary of the first women's Test series between the two nations.The multi-format women's Ashes series will kick off Australia's home summer, which also includes a T20I series against New Zealand, a three-match ODI series against India, and the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh.The MCG Test will be the first women's Test played at the venue since 1948-49 and will also be the first women's international match since the 2020 T20 World Cup final.Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry expressed her excitement about the fixture, recognizing its historical significance and the potential it holds for the growth of women's cricket.However, the debate continues over whether four-day or five-day cricket is the optimal format for women's Tests. Perry believes more quantifiable data is needed to determine the most effective approach.Cricket Australia (CA) remains committed to four-day games, citing the need to improve Test cricket and attract more fans. CA's head of scheduling, Peter Roach, emphasized the importance of finding the right balance and outcome for women's cricket.Despite Australia's preference for the WACA ground, the MCG's similar pace and bounce in recent men's Tests made it an ideal choice for this historic occasion.Perry highlighted the team's connection to past players and the importance of recognizing the history of women's cricket. She mentioned the 50th anniversary celebration of the 1973 women's World Cup team and the presence of former players at the 2020 World Cup final.

Ellyse Perry, the Australian all-rounder, has been a beacon of consistency across sports, excelling in both football and cricket. Despite her impressive achievements, Perry remains grounded and focused on the present.After her remarkable performance in the Women's Premier League (WPL), where she claimed 6 for 15 against Mumbai Indians, Perry celebrated modestly with a chocolate brownie and ice cream. However, she emphasized the importance of maintaining perspective and not getting carried away by success."It's easy to get really carried away when things go well," Perry said. "But I feel like a lot of time you don't have that much control over things panning well or not."Perry's reduced bowling workload in recent times has not diminished her preparation. She believes in staying ready for any opportunity to contribute to her team."I have played for a long period of time now, so I have got a bit of a handle on how I need to prepare," Perry explained. "I do that keeping in mind that you are available if the opportunity presents itself to bowl in a game."With the Women's T20 World Cup approaching, Perry's performance in the WPL has raised questions about her potential role in the Australian team. However, she remains focused on her team's success rather than personal accolades."I don't think there is a case for anything," Perry said. "I have played a lot of cricket over a number of years. We have been pretty fortunate in the Australian team that we have a lot of options."Perry credits the positive atmosphere and leadership of Smriti Mandhana for Royal Challengers Bangalore's turnaround in the WPL."There's a really strong sense of calmness and people are enjoying themselves," Perry said. "Smriti has led the group exceptionally well."As RCB prepares for the Eliminator against Mumbai Indians, Perry remains confident in her team's abilities."The team, as a whole, has had more time together," Perry said. "The fact that we can take the field knowing each other and supporting each other has been great."

Ellyse Perry's Colossal Strike Shatters Car Window in WPL ClashIn an extraordinary turn of events, Royal Challengers Bangalore batter Ellyse Perry unleashed a thunderous strike that shattered the window of a display car during the Women's Premier League (WPL) match against UP Warriorz at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.Perry's colossal blow came in the penultimate over bowled by Deepti Sharma. The Australian all-rounder muscled the ball over the deep mid-wicket fence, sending it hurtling towards a car parked on a podium. The ball struck the rear door window with such force that it shattered into pieces.A stunned Perry immediately reacted by placing her hand on her head as the packed crowd at the Chinnaswamy erupted in a mix of awe and disbelief. The incident was captured on camera and shared widely on social media.Despite the unusual occurrence, Perry continued her blistering innings, scoring a rapid 58 runs off just 37 deliveries. Her knock, along with a half-century from skipper Smriti Mandhana (80 off 50 balls), propelled RCB to a formidable total of 198 for 3 against the Warriorz.The incident highlights the immense power and skill of Perry, who is widely regarded as one of the best all-rounders in women's cricket. Her ability to generate such force with her batting is a testament to her exceptional technique and athleticism.The shattered car window also serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of sports and the potential for unexpected events to occur. While such incidents are rare, they add an element of excitement and unpredictability to the game.

Mumbai Indians' bowlers put up a clinical performance to restrict Royal Challengers Bangalore to a modest 131/8 in the Women's Premier League match on Saturday.After being asked to bat first, Bangalore lost three wickets in the powerplay and struggled to gain momentum. Ellyse Perry (44* off 38) and Georgia Wareham (27) provided some stability with a 52-run partnership for the sixth wicket, but the Mumbai bowlers kept the pressure on.Natalie Sciver-Brunt and Pooja Vastrakar picked up two wickets each, while Issy Wong and Saika Ishaque took one apiece. The surface appeared slow, making it difficult for the batters to score freely.In the chase, Mumbai openers Yastika Bhatia and Hayley Matthews got off to a solid start, putting on 29 runs for the first wicket. Bhatia was particularly impressive, hitting two boundaries and a six in her 18-ball 23.However, Bangalore fought back with the wickets of Bhatia and Matthews in quick succession. Sophie Devine then dismissed Richa Ghosh for a duck, leaving Mumbai at 35/3.Natalie Sciver-Brunt (15) and Amelia Kerr (14*) steadied the ship with a 29-run partnership, but the required run rate continued to climb.In the end, Mumbai fell short by 11 runs, with Perry and Wareham remaining unbeaten at the crease.