Manchester Originals botch chance to climb into knockout contention

The Originals, who have never progressed beyond the group phase of the women's competition, looked strong favourites after restricting the visitors to 111 from their 100 balls

ECB Media | 24/08/2025 at 17:30

Old Trafford: Birmingham Phoenix 111-3, Manchester Originals 95 - Birmingham Phoenix win by 16 runs

Manchester Originals missed the chance to take a big leap towards qualifying for the Hundred eliminator next Saturday after falling to a 16-run defeat to lowly Birmingham Phoenix at Emirates Old Trafford and slipping out of the top three.

The Originals, who have never progressed beyond the group phase of the women's competition, looked strong favourites after restricting the visitors to 111 for 3 but Aussie seamer Megan Schutt (3 for 14) spearheaded an inspired performance with the ball after Ellyse Perry's second successive half century and a sparky knock from Sterre Kalis had given them something to defend.

Both Originals openers were dismissed for ducks, Kathyrn Bryce run out by Emma Lamb and Beth Mooney falling to a superb running catch by Marie Kelly off Schutt, before Em Arlott snared Alice Monaghan to leave the hosts 14 for 3.

That became 14 for 4 two balls later when 19-year-old off-spinner Phoebe Brett had Amelia Kerr caught at mid-on by Arlott. Deandra Dottin and Seren Smale steadied the ship somewhat before Hannah Baker snared the former, caught at long-off as she tried to up the ante.

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^{There were four runouts in Originals' innings (Joe Prior/Getty Images)}

Smale dug deep for her 34-ball 29, eventually caught at short fine leg by Brett to give Schutt her third wicket, and Lauren Filer struck three boundaries in her unbeaten 19, but the Originals were eventually dismissed for 95 from the final ball of their innings.

Earlier, Phoenix skipper Perry had chosen to bat after winning the toss, but her team were soon in trouble, Georgia Voll falling for a four-ball duck after picking out Monaghan at deep square-leg off Mahika Gaur.

Originals' high-class bowling attack was relentless, the visitors crawling to 15 in 24 balls when Lamb offered a simple chance to Dottin off Sophie Ecclestone before Amy Jones succumbed to Dottin to leave the score 17 for 3.

Perry (55 not out from 48) and Kalis mounted a rescue operation, the Aussie legend reaching her half for century by dispatching Bryce for six over midwicket and Kalis unbeaten on 43 from 39 when the innings concluded.

It didn't look like being enough against an Originals side which had won their three previous matches, but Phoenix prevailed to move up to seventh in the table and push their opponents down to fourth, behind London Spirit on net run rate.

Originals now face a crucial final group match against Northern Superchargers on Tuesday, with Spirit visiting Oval Invincibles tomorrow.