The reigning champions, London Spirit, delivered an announcement efficiency at Lord’s, crushing Birmingham Phoenix by a staggering 88 runs—the most important margin of victory within the historical past of The Hundred’s Girls 2025. The decisive win, fueled by an explosive partnership between Kira Chathli and Grace Harris, not solely propels Spirit to the highest of the desk but in addition successfully extinguishes any remaining playoff hopes for the hapless Phoenix.
The muse of Spirit’s commanding complete of 164 was laid by a wide ranging show of energy hitting. Opener Kira Chathli, a revelation this season, performed her most spectacular innings thus far, scoring a scintillating 69 from simply 35 balls. Her knock, adorned with 13 fours, set a ferocious tempo from the outset. She discovered a formidable accomplice within the in-form Grace Harris, whose transient however brutal cameo of 15 balls yielded 4 sixes. The pair’s damaging 47-run partnership from solely 21 deliveries took the sport fully away from Phoenix, who had initially discovered some success with the ball.
Kira Chathli and Grace Harris ignite London Spirit’s dominance
Spirit’s innings, nonetheless, was not with out its challenges. They misplaced key wickets early, with Georgia Redmayne and Cordelia Griffith departing within the powerplay. The spectacular Phoenix seamer Em Arlott capitalized on these breakthroughs, claiming three wickets to attract stage with Lauren Bell because the event’s main wicket-taker with 10 scalps. Regardless of these setbacks, the Chathli-Harris partnership proved to be the turning level, remodeling a strong complete right into a monumental one. Harris, particularly, has been the heartbeat of Spirit’s center order, now amassing 199 runs at a fearsome strike price of 180 this time period. Her capacity to constantly clear the ropes has been a big think about her crew’s success.
In stark distinction, Phoenix’s chase was a shambles from the get-go. They faltered badly towards a disciplined new-ball assault from Spirit. The hosts misplaced three wickets inside the primary 33 balls, a collapse from which they by no means recovered. Spirit’s left-arm spinner Bex Tyson and the resurgent fast-bowler Issy Wong bowled with distinctive management and fireplace. Wong, particularly, continues to burnish her credentials as one among England’s most promising younger seamers, delivering a efficiency that showcased her ability and self-discipline.
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Phoenix’s star-studded line-up fizzles out
Phoenix’s season-long struggles with the bat had been painfully evident. Their high-profile Australian pair, Ellyse Perry and Georgia Voll, each failed to succeed in double figures, mirroring their crew’s general poor kind. The hosts have managed only one half-century all event—an innings by Emma Lamb—highlighting a collective batting failure. With simply 4 factors from 5 matches, Phoenix is now just about out of the operating for a playoff spot, a disappointing finish to a marketing campaign that had promised a lot however delivered little.
Spirit, underneath the astute management of Charlie Dean, are as soon as once more constructing momentum on the excellent time. Dean herself contributed with the ball, choosing up two essential wickets, together with that of England teammate Amy Jones. The defending champions now sit joint-top of the desk with a superior run price to Southern Courageous, demonstrating their title protection is in full swing. This dominant victory serves as a robust message to their rivals and firmly establishes them because the crew to beat because the event enters its ultimate levels.
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This text was first printed at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Occasions firm.