Cricket

Welsh Fire's dominant performance at Sophia Gardens propelled them to the summit of the women's Hundred standings, as they comfortably defeated Southern Brave by seven wickets.Hayley Matthews' exceptional bowling display, claiming three wickets for just 16 runs, proved instrumental in restricting Southern Brave to a meager total of 84. The Brave's batting lineup struggled to cope with the seam and spin bowling, with none of their batters managing to establish a significant partnership.Georgia Adams emerged as the top scorer for Southern Brave with a modest 17 runs, while Matthews' all-around brilliance shone through. The West Indian all-rounder's accurate bowling was complemented by a superb fielding effort, with Phoebe Franklin and Tammy Beaumont taking crucial catches to dismiss Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt, respectively.Welsh Fire's chase began cautiously, with Sophia Dunkley falling for a golden duck. However, Beaumont and Bryce steadily accumulated runs, gradually chipping away at the target. Beaumont's dismissal by Lauren Cheatle, who was the most economical bowler for Southern Brave, left Jess Jonassen with the task of guiding Fire to victory.Jonassen's composed batting ensured Fire's fourth win in this year's Hundred, solidifying their position at the top of the table.Matthews, the Meerkat Match Hero, attributed her success to precise bowling and the team's collective effort. "I tried to pitch it in good areas and keep my lines straight," she said. "There was some turn and bounce in the pitch, so I focused on keeping the stumps in play.""We've been playing well as a team and having everyone contribute," Matthews added. "Getting the wicket from the first ball gave us a great start, and we just built on that momentum."

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."

Manchester Originals emerged victorious in their clash against defending champions Southern Brave at the Utilita Bowl, securing a six-wicket win. Laura Wolvaardt's unbeaten 78 proved pivotal in the Originals' triumph, guiding them to victory with just two balls to spare.Brave's innings got off to a promising start, with Danni Wyatt and Maia Bouchier establishing a 51-run partnership. However, the introduction of Sophie Ecclestone proved decisive, as the England spinner claimed both Wyatt and Charli Knott in quick succession.Wolvaardt and Eve Jones then took control of the chase, forging an 80-run stand for the second wicket. Wolvaardt's innings was a masterclass in timing and placement, as she struck 11 boundaries in her 52-ball knock. Jones provided valuable support, contributing 39 runs before falling to Georgia Adams.Ecclestone's brief cameo included a six, while Wolvaardt remained steadfast at the crease, ensuring the Originals' victory. The win marks the Originals' second of the tournament, while Brave remain winless after three matches.Wolvaardt, who was named the Meerkat Match Hero, expressed her satisfaction with the chase, acknowledging the team's firepower and her own determination to take the game deep. She also praised Jones' contribution, highlighting her consistent performance throughout the tournament.

Northern Superchargers and Southern Brave played out a thrilling tie in the Hundred, with Kate Cross scrambling two runs off the final ball to level the scores.On a slow and used wicket, boundary-hitting was at a premium, and Superchargers' chase of 100 was a tense affair. Southern Brave, led by captain Georgia Adams, used the conditions to their advantage, keeping the stumps in play and applying constant pressure.Lauren Bell was the standout performer for Brave, taking 4 for 11 with her accurate seam bowling. Phoebe Litchfield and Alice Davidson-Richards looked to have the chase under control for Superchargers, but both were dismissed at crucial moments.Only Maia Bouchier and Chloe Tryon passed 20 for Southern Brave, but Rhianna Southby and Bell played important roles with the bat, guiding their team to a three-figure total.Superchargers' chase was always behind the required rate, and they needed 10 runs from the final five balls. Cross hit a boundary off the fourth ball, and then scrambled two runs off the final delivery to secure the tie.Both sides will feel they missed the opportunity to get their first win of the Hundred, but the tie was a fair reflection of a closely contested match.

London Spirit's Heather Knight orchestrated a stunning six-wicket victory over reigning champions Southern Brave in a thrilling encounter at The Hundred. Chasing 152, Knight's unbeaten 65 from 31 balls proved decisive, guiding her team to victory with three deliveries to spare.Southern Brave's innings was anchored by Danni Wyatt's 59 from 35 balls, making her The Hundred's all-time leading run-scorer. Maia Bouchier contributed 35 before a mix-up with Wyatt led to her run-out. Georgia Adams and Chloe Tryon propelled Brave to 151 for 6.Spirit's reply began slowly, with Meg Lanning dismissed by 16-year-old debutant Tilly Corteen-Coleman. Georgia Redmayne provided momentum with 45 from 31, before Charli Knott's direct hit removed Dani Gibson.Knight took charge, hitting three consecutive boundaries off Knott to bring Spirit back into contention. Despite Knott's dismissal of Gibson, Knight remained composed, dispatching Adams to the boundary for the winning runs.Knight's match-winning performance earned her the Meerkat Match Hero award. She acknowledged the difficulty of beating Brave at home and praised Wyatt's innings. Knight emphasized the importance of clear shot selection and the impact of the quick outfield in enabling Spirit to catch up quickly.

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.

Mark Nicholas, the former Hampshire captain and current MCC president, has stepped down as chair of Southern Brave's board. This decision aligns with his impending role as MCC chair, which coincides with the potential for MCC to become majority owners of London Spirit.Nicholas's departure from Southern Brave, a joint venture between Hampshire and Sussex, stems from his increasing involvement with MCC. He has been instrumental in communicating with MCC members regarding the proposed changes to the ownership structure of Hundred teams. The ECB plans to grant 51% stakes to team hosts, with MCC poised to acquire a significant share in London Spirit.MCC has been exploring the possibility of owning a stake in London Spirit since late last year. Nicholas has expressed his support for this move, envisioning MCC as the unifying force behind a single team. The global prominence of Lord's, MCC's home ground, makes London Spirit a highly lucrative investment.If MCC acquires a majority stake in London Spirit, the potential windfall could be used to enhance the MCC Foundation, invest in the club's museum, and upgrade facilities at Lord's. Recently, MCC received approval for a £61.8 million redevelopment of the Allen and Tavern Stands.Nicholas's resignation from Southern Brave's board is a testament to his growing responsibilities at MCC. As he prepares to assume the role of chair in October, he will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of MCC and its potential involvement in the Hundred.