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Southern Brave Secure Top Spot with Hard-Fought Win Over Birmingham Phoenix
Southern Brave rose to the top of the points table in the ongoing women’s competition after a clinical 15-run victory over Birmingham Phoenix at Southampton. Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s explosive half-century, Sophie Devine’s all-round brilliance, and a disciplined team bowling performance ensured the Brave continued their winning momentum despite a late scare from Sterre Kalis.
Wyatt-Hodge’s Dominance Sets the Tone
Put in to bat, Southern Brave suffered an early setback when Maia Bouchier fell cheaply. However, Wyatt-Hodge, in red-hot form, seized control of the innings with aggressive stroke play.
Partnering first with Laura Wolvaardt, the pair added 48 runs at a brisk pace, dismantling the Phoenix’s early momentum. Wolvaardt’s quickfire 28 off 19 balls provided stability before Sophie Devine joined Wyatt-Hodge for another crucial 52-run stand.
Wyatt-Hodge reached her 34-ball fifty with a flurry of boundaries, punishing anything loose. Her eventual 59 became the backbone of Brave’s innings, ensuring they crossed the 100-run mark by the 73rd ball. However, her dismissal triggered a collapse, with the Brave slipping from 120/2 to 135/7.
Despite the late wickets, the Brave finished on a competitive 139/7, giving their bowlers something to defend.
Tilly Corteen-Coleman’s Early Double Breakthrough
Phoenix Stumble in PowerPlay
The Phoenix chase started disastrously as Tilly Corteen-Coleman struck twice in her opening set, removing Emma Lamb and Marie Kelly within three balls. Lauren Bell then joined the wicket column, dismissing Georgia Voll for 10 to leave Phoenix struggling at 22/3 by the 18th ball.
Middle-Order Fightback Led by Perry and Jones
Skipper Ellyse Perry combined with Amy Jones for a 37-run stand, rebuilding the innings with smart rotation and boundary hitting. However, their partnership was cut short by Chloe Tryon, whose sharp catch off Sophie Devine dismissed Jones.
Devine’s knack for breaking partnerships struck again when she sent Perry back before she could build further momentum alongside Kalis.
Kalis’s Resistance and Brave’s Death-Bowling Masterclass
Sterre Kalis emerged as the last hope for Phoenix, smashing seven boundaries in her enterprising 44 off 34 balls. She kept the chase alive with aggressive intent, but lacked consistent support at the other end.
Devine’s second wicket – that of Ailsa Lister – and a brilliant run-out of Megan Schutt swung the game back in Brave’s favour. In the final overs, Lauren Bell cleaned up Kalis, sealing the win with a ball to spare and finishing with outstanding figures of 3-17.
Scorecard Summary
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Southern Brave: 139/7 in 100 balls (Wyatt-Hodge 59, Wolvaardt 28, Devine 27; Arlott 2-19, Schutt 2-23)
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Birmingham Phoenix: 124 all out in 99 balls (Kalis 44, Perry 26; Bell 3-17, Corteen-Coleman 2-16, Devine 2-28)
Points Table Impact
This win propels Southern Brave to the top of the points table, underlining their consistency in both batting and bowling. Their ability to defend totals with disciplined execution could prove decisive in the latter stages of the tournament.
For more updates on this competition’s standings, check our latest women’s cricket coverage.
📌 Related Reading: Check out our recent match analysis of Southern Brave’s previous win to see how their form has built up to this top-table finish.
