Thrilling Victory for Welsh Fire as Shabnim Ismail Secures Hat-Trick against Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred

Welsh Fire Secure Thrilling Victory with Shabnim Ismail’s Hat-Trick

In a nail-biting encounter, Welsh Fire emerged victorious with a sensational three-run win over Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred. The match took an exhilarating turn when Shabnim Ismail, the talented bowler for Welsh Fire, claimed a remarkable hat-trick to seal their triumph.

Birmingham Phoenix needed just four runs from the last three balls to secure victory. However, Ismail showcased her brilliance by dismissing Tess Flintoff for 55, followed by consecutive dismissals of Erin Burns and Issy Wong without them adding any runs to the scoreboard. England wicketkeeper Amy Jones was left stranded on 48 at the other end as Phoenix fell agonizingly short of their target.

With this result, Welsh Fire continues their unbeaten streak in The Hundred women’s competition while Birmingham Phoenix are still searching for their first win.

A Stunning Turnaround

Birmingham Phoenix seemed to be cruising towards victory after a dominant second-wicket partnership of 93 between Tess Flintoff and Amy Jones. However, it was Shabnim Ismail who turned the tables with her exceptional performance.

The former South Africa quick demonstrated immense composure even after being hit for four by Flintoff from the previous delivery. She swiftly fought back and dismissed Flintoff with an excellent delivery. Next up was Erin Burns who could only flash at Ismail’s next ball before Claire Nicholas caught her stylishly. Finally, England seamer Issy Wong had no answer as she saw her stumps disturbed off the final ball of that extraordinary over.

Faltered Finish but Not Defeated

Prior to this enthralling encounter, Welsh Fire posted a competitive total of 137-7, largely thanks to England batter Tammy Beaumont’s impressive knock of 59 off just 40 deliveries. However, Fire faced a collapse towards the end of their innings as they lost four wickets for only 13 runs.

Looking ahead, Welsh Fire will be determined to bounce back in their next match against Southern Brave on Saturday 12 August. Meanwhile, Birmingham Phoenix will face defending champions Oval Invincibles at Edgbaston on Sunday 13 August.

The Heroes Speak

Shabnim Ismail expressed her delight and astonishment after securing three crucial wickets in the final over. Although she had previously achieved a hat-trick before, she couldn’t help but feel proud of this achievement which proved instrumental in her team’s victory. The South African bowler emphasized the change within the Welsh Fire team this year and praised their collective belief.

Captain Tammy Beaumont acknowledged that it was an incredibly stressful game but expressed immense pride in her team’s performance. Despite some initial struggles with the ball and losing Hayley Matthews early on a turning pitch, Beaumont commended her teammates’ perseverance until the very end and highlighted Shabnim Ismail’s knack for delivering when it matters most.