By Huzaifa Yousafzai from the Kia Oval
Australian legend and Birmingham Phoenix’s captain, Ellyse Perry hailed the Hundred as “an awesome competition” and is pleased to be back despite her side’s loss.
On Tuesday afternoon, two-time champions, Oval Invincibles Women comfortably defeated the Birmingham Phoenix Women for the opening game of the 2024 Hundred season in front of a large home crowd at the Kia Oval.
Speaking immediately after the game, the Australian all-rounder spoke glowingly about the novel competition introduced back in 2021 and how she was “very privileged to be here”.
“People come to watch the men’s and women’s games. There’s no sort of double curtain raiser or double header, it’s an all-round package including the entertainment in between and that’s absolutely awesome.”
“The atmosphere at the matches is brilliant and the quality of cricket is outstanding as well. It’s a nice kind of landmark tournament in the middle of the English summer to escape the cold weather back home.”
Perry continued to explain how she views the women’s game as an integral part of growing the sport, not just for young girls but right across the board.
“There’s a lot to say about the commercialization of the women’s game and the role it has played in attracting lots of new people into the game. So for me it’s super important and just as important a billing as the men’s game now”
Fifties for Alice Capsey and Paige Scholfield meant Phoenix were set a target of 150 that they fell short of by 45 runs thanks to Amanda Jade-Wellington’s 3 for 9 with the ball.
Having missed the 2023 season due to a knee injury, Perry returned as captain of the Phoenix but had a poor outing, as she claimed no wickets and was run out for a six-ball duck.
She described her team’s opening night performance as a “very patchy first game” but did admit that there were “lots of positives from it as well.”
Despite failing to chase a large total, Perry was still pleased by good signs and believes that with a bit more luck and slightly better execution her side could have broken their 12 match losing streak.
“Look I thought we played as attacking as we could and had some really good patches but just didn’t quite have the partnership we needed. I still think with a really positive chase and a good partnership in there it was still chase able.”
