Former South Africa pacer Shabnim Ismail showed why she has been nicknamed ‘demon’. The death overs speciallist handed Welsh Fire an unexpected in The Hundred’s women’s competition on August 10 against Birmingham Phoenix at Edgbaston.
The hosts needed just four runs to win from the last three balls with nine wickets in hand. Opener Tess Flintoff and Amy Jones were in the middle and it looked like Birmingham will finish it off easily. But, Ismail made a tremendous comeback and took a hat-trick to stun the Birmingham crowd.
Ismail was expensive earlier in the innings conceding 26 runs from 15 balls. Nine runs were needed off the last five balls. Jones took a single. Flintoff hit a boundary towards deep extra cover. Next ball, Ismail bowled a full-pitched delivery. Flintoff played across and got bowled. She scored 55 runs from 45 balls including six fours.
New batter Erin Burns made room for herself but found a thick outside edge that carried to short third man fielder Claire Nicholas. On the last ball, four runs were needed. Issy Wong succumbed to the pressure as well. Wong tried to make room for herself to hit it square off the wicket but missed the ball and got bowled.
Ismail with her raw pace managed to steal a win from the jaws of defeat. Meanwhile, Jones remained stranded on one end. She contributed with a 34-ball 48 that ended in a losing cause.
Earlier, Birmingham skipper Evelyn Jones won the toss and opted to field first. Welsh skipper Tammy Beaumont and Hayley Matthews got the side off to a good start with a 72-run partnership. Hannah Baker got the breakthrough as Matthews fell after a run-a-ball 23. Beaumont completed her half-century but she could not last till the end. Flintoff got ther wicket. The opener scored 59 runs from 40 balls including nine fours and one six.
Sophia Dunkley looked to score quickly and contributed with a 19-ball 25. Once again, Baker got the wicket. Laura Arlott and Katie Levkick struck twice as Welsh Fire failed to post a big total. They posted 137/7.
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