NICK FRIEND reviews the stand-out talking points from a crucial win for Birmingham Phoenix against Trent Rockets that keeps their playoff hopes alive
There has hardly been a day this summer when Katherine Brunt has not been bowling at Shafali Verma.
This time – and not for the first time in that prolonged battle – Brunt, the master, came out on top against the apprentice.
Until Monday afternoon, this had been a frustrating campaign for the Indian teenager, who hadn’t passed 22 before whacking an unbeaten 76 in the 10-wicket hammering of Welsh Fire.
And she looked to have carried that newly rediscovered form to Trent Bridge, swiping three early boundaries in her own inimitable style. It ended on 16, when she slapped Brunt to Heather Graham at deep midwicket.
Brunt was thrilled; Verma could only offer a wry smile. She had picked the slower ball and nailed it, only to locate the fielder waiting for exactly that stroke.
The pair have met twice in this tournament; both times, Brunt’s back-of-the-hand delivery has done for Verma.
If that is to be the end of this match-up for the next few months – at least until next year’s World Cup – then it has provided the game with plenty of entertainment since their first encounter at Bristol two months ago in the one-off Test.
Katherine Brunt and Shafali Verma went head to head again
Being drafted in by Birmingham Phoenix as a replacement for Ellyse Perry would have been something of a poisoned chalice for any overseas player, so Katie Mack could be forgiven if she felt at all burdened by the weight of expectation that comes with filling in for the leading player of the last decade in the women’s game.
Many observers – and not only The Hundred’s much-vaunted new audience – would have been unfamiliar with the work of the uncapped Australian, who has represented both Melbourne Stars and Adelaide Strikers in the Women’s Big Bash.
What we have learnt in this competition – even if she has failed to pass 31 for Phoenix – is that there are few better outfielders in the tournament.
From there, she was responsible for one of the afternoon’s defining moments: Nat Sciver was well set, ticking along at a run a ball, having hit two early boundaries before Mack ran her out with a direct hit from the boundary edge.
Having watched Rachel Priest, Sammy-Jo Johnson and Katherine Brunt all fall between the 20th and 39th deliveries, it was the last thing that Trent needed, even if this game wasn’t as critical for them as it was for their visitors, who arrived knowing that only a victory would afford their playoff chances a stay of execution.
She repeated the trick later on to add a second runout to her day, seeing off Sarah Glenn as Rockets chased late runs.
As much as Erin Burns and Emily Arlott combined for a gem of a partnership to wrestle two crucial points for their side, you would be foolish to underestimate the piece of fielding that saw the back of Sciver.
Sammy-Jo Johnson is the competition's leading wicket-taker
Until Sammy-Jo Johnson overtook her in the second innings, Kirstie Gordon was the joint-highest wicket-taker in The Hundred alongside Johnson - also the leading wicket-taker in last year’s Women’s Big Bash - and Adil Rashid.
For the Scotland-born left-arm spinner, it represents a terrific effort. Gordon seemed well-placed to become England’s second spinner – after Sophie Ecclestone – two years ago, but she has not played international cricket since July 2019, when she was handed a Test debut against Australia midway through the Ashes.
As a follow-up, she was released from her central contract earlier this year, moving instead onto a regional deal with Lightning. So, she deserves immense credit for how she has fought back.
It seems like ages since the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy went on its midseason hiatus, but only Charlie Dean has more wickets than Gordon in that competition.
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