MATCH REPORT
Follow UsDeepti Sharma pips Shafali Verma as London Spirits beat Birmingham Phoenix by three wickets in The Hundred Women's competition at Edgbaston on Friday (July 23). After being put into bat, the Phoenix were on the back foot right away after losing Katie Mack for seven and soon after that, Shafali after smashing a couple of boundaries, was bowled by a beautifully disguised slower delivery from fast bowler Freya Davies.
Davies opened the bowling with India off-spinner Deepti Sharma, who finished with figures of 1 for 26 from her allotted 20 balls. Deandra Dottin ( 2 for 28) was the pick of the bowlers for Spirit, which enabled them to restrict Phoenix to 128 for 6 from 100 balls, despite Evelyn Jones' 47, which included nine fours.
After doing well with the bat, Deepti came into bat at No. 4 and smashed 28 off 24 deliveries, which included two hits to the fence. She came during a tricky period - after her team had lost Naomi Dattani for 34 - and was involved in crucial 30-run stand with Heather Knight (21) and the put on 27 runs for the fourth wicket with Chloe Tyron (9).
When Deepti was dismissed, Spirit still needed 21 from 19 deliveries with another four wickets in hand. Wicketkeeper Amara Carr (11) and Danielle Gibson ensured they got there in the end. Off-spinner Erin Burns bowled extremely well in her 20-ball spell, giving away just 15 runs ad also picked up the wickets of Dattani and Deepti.
London Spirits will be in action next on Sunday (July 25) against Oval Invincibles, while Birmingham Phoenix will take on Manchester Originals on the same day.
Brief scores:
Birmingham Phoenix 128 for 6 in 100 balls (Evelyn Jones 47, Amy Jones 33; Deandra Dottin 2 for 28) lost to London Spirit 132 for 7 in 96 balls (Naomi Dattani 34, Deepti Sharma 28; Erin Burns 2 for 15) by 3 wickets.
Player of the match: Evelyn Jones
