Summary

  • Spirit survive wobble from 108-3 to 124-7 to win opener

  • Eve Jones (47) & Amy Jones (33) help Phoenix to 128-6

  1. Spirit 87-3published at 37 balls left

    It's actually Deepti Sharma who punishes Wong, not Tryon. It's down the leg side from the fast bowler and Sharma flicks it to the boundary.

    Wong shows her frustrations by letting out a huge groan.

  2. Postpublished at 17:14 British Summer Time 23 July 2021

    Alex Hartley
    Manchester Originals bowler

    Issy Wong is one of the best people I have ever met.

    As a bowler, she's rapid. On fresh, hard pitches is where she will really come to her own. Sometimes at domestic level we don't play on decent enough pitches for her to feel absolutely rapid but we're going to be playing on pitches which will zip the ball through.

    But she has variation, she has a brilliant bouncer and slower-ball bouncer.

    Off the field, Issy can have a massive impact on inspiring young girls to take up the sport, not just from what she can do with the ball but because she's proud to be different.

    She has short back and sides, bleached blonde hair and is true to herself.

    That is the most important thing if you're looking to inspire the next generation of female cricketers.

  3. Postpublished at 17:14 British Summer Time 23 July 2021

    Time for Issy Wong to come back into the attack and will be bowling to the big-hitting Chloe Tryon. This is going to be some battle.

  4. Postpublished at 17:13 British Summer Time 23 July 2021

    Isabelle Westbury
    Ex-Middlesex captain on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    Kirstie Gordon lost her England contract this year and clean bowling the England captain is some statement.

  5. Postpublished at 17:13 British Summer Time 23 July 2021

    Charlie Taylor
    BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    Gordon gets her revenge!

  6. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 40 balls left

    Knight b Gordon 21 (Spirit 81-3)

    Heather Knight is down on one knee looking to slog Kirstie Gordon, but misses the ball completely and is clean bowled.

    Spirit looked to be in the driving seat but does that wicket change things?

  7. Spirit 48-2published at 39 balls left

    And it seems like, for that reason, Knight is getting a move on here as she crunches Kirstie Gordon through the off side for a delightful boundary.

  8. Postpublished at 17:10 British Summer Time 23 July 2021

    Aatif Nawaz
    BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra commentator

    Heather Knight has got a busy day today. She's on commentary with us for the men's game this afternoon.

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:09 British Summer Time 23 July 2021

    #bbccricket

    The Hundred Club: I wonder if the double header concept is something the Premier League and WSL could explore? It's a great way of showcasing women's sport and giving fans more value for money.

  10. Spirit 73-2published at 45 balls left

    Deepti Sharma plays with soft hands to delicately guide the ball past the wicketkeeper for two runs.

  11. Postpublished at 17:07 British Summer Time 23 July 2021

    Opener Naomi Dattani got London Spirit off to a blistering start, hitting 34 from just 19 balls.

    Naomi Dattani run mapImage source, BBC Sport
  12. Spirit 70-2published at 47 balls left

    Nearly a mix-up between Knight and Sharma! A lot of "yes, no, yes, no" before the pair run a single. Had the throw from the fielder gone to the bowler's end, there could have been a run out.

  13. Halfway point wormpublished at 17:07 British Summer Time 23 July 2021

    Worm
  14. Postpublished at 17:06 British Summer Time 23 July 2021

    Aatif, would you say it's too close to call?

  15. Postpublished at 17:06 British Summer Time 23 July 2021

    Aatif Nawaz
    BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra commentator

    Neither team are lunging towards victory at the moment, it's a bit of a stalemate in this middle period.

  16. Spirit 68-2published at 50 balls left

    Up and over! Heather Knight frees her arms and lofts Georgia Elwiss for four, the ball bouncing a couple of times before reaching the boundary.

    We're at the halfway stage and Spirit need 61 runs form 50 balls.

  17. Postpublished at 17:03 British Summer Time 23 July 2021

    She's got the ball in hand now, but earlier this year, Scotland cricketer Abtaha Maqsood told BBC Sport about her journey, from being the only female in her junior team to representing Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred. She hopes she can be a role model for other young Muslim women to follow their sporting dreams.

    Media caption,

    One of Scotland's most promising spin bowlers, Abtaha Maqsood tells BBC Sport her journey,

  18. Spirit 62-2published at 55 balls left

    Target 129=6

    Abtaha Maqsood, a 22-year-old leg-spinner from Scotland, is brought into the attack. She's very highly rated in cricketing circles.

    A wide delivery is crunched through the off side by Deepti Sharma for four.

  19. Postpublished at 17:00 British Summer Time 23 July 2021

    Isabelle Westbury
    Ex-Middlesex captain on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    There is still pressure on Sharma even though that was not out. She's yet to score.

  20. Spirit 52-2published at 60 balls left

    I might start using "too close to call" in every day life.