Twitter Reactions: Naomi Dattani, Deepti Sharma star as London Spirit get past Birmingham Phoenix in a thriller

London Spirit were deemed as the favourites to win against the Birmingham Phoenix on Friday, July 23. However, at the Edgbaston in Birmingham, Heather Knight and Co. had to play out of their skins to secure a victory. In the end, the Spirit won by three wickets with four balls remaining. The Phoenix picked up late wickets to peg their opponents back, but couldn’t hold their nerve in the final stages.

Jones takes charge

After being put in to bat first, the Phoenix got off to a decent start as Shafali Verma scorched a couple of fours. Deandra Dottin gave Birmingham their first breakthrough, getting rid of opener Katie Mack and soon after Freya Davies castled Shafali. Knight sent back Emily Arlott and reduced the Phoenix to 37/3. Thereafter, Evelyn Jones and skipper Amy Jones took charge of the team.

Jones went on to top-score for her team, having notched 47 off 41 with nine fours. Jones was the more attacking as her 33 came at a strike rate of 194.12. The duo stitched together a partnership of 64 runs for the fourth wicket off 41 balls. Charlotte Dean and Dottin picked up the wickets of the Jones as the Phoenix ended with 128/6. India’s Deepti Sharma got the wicket of Erin Burns.

Spirit go over the line

The Spirit didn’t have a great start as Isabelle Wong trapped Deandra Dottin in front in the third set of five balls. However, Naomi Dattani laid into Arlott and made use of the powerplay. The left-hander notched 34 off 19 with four fours and one six before Erin Burns removed her. Knight had gotten her eyes in, scoring a 17-ball 21 after which spinner Kirstie Gordon rattled her woodwork.

Arlott made a stupendous comeback as she got rid of Chloe Tyron and Susie Rowe in quick succession. Burns gave the Phoenix a major wicket after Deepti Sharma scored 28 and holed out to Mack on the leg-side. In the end, Danielle Gibson hit two fours, thanks to a reverse-sweep followed by a sweep, to take the Spirit over the line. Amara Carr also chipped in with 11 off nine with one four.

Here’s how the netizens reacted to London Spirit’s win:

Just leaving this GIF here. #DeeptiSharma #TheHundred pic.twitter.com/3yhQNEaxnx

— Krithika (@krithika0808) July 23, 2021

Deepti Sharma under Griffin/Knight

28(24)
39(22)* in a run chase in final
1(1)*
32(26)
23(14)*
10(9)*

That intent every game speaks volumes. The reason am hopeful everytime she's sent in to do the finisher's role by India. Will click one day & won't fade for long.

— Abhay (@ImAbhay3) July 23, 2021

Deepti Sharma & Hazratullah Zazai both have similar style of batting, they will either sweep, pull or drag everything to leg side. So never bowl them on leg line, let them drag the ball from off side.#TheHundred

— Yeshwant Chitte (@YeshwantChitte) July 23, 2021

Deepti Sharma You Beauty ❤️ Well played @thehundred

— Daya Sagar ❤️ (@equity421) July 23, 2021

Deepti Sharma 🔥 #TheHundred #LondonSpirit

— Kavya Kashyap (@KavyaKashyap28) July 23, 2021

How has Naomi Dattani never made the England squad?! The lass can sure give the ball some tap#TheHundred

— Jimmy (@AlviroPatterson) July 23, 2021

Loving the lefties today! Go @NaomiDattani Evelyn Jones! Awesome to watch @thehundred #hundred

— Isa Guha (@isaguha) July 23, 2021

It's a really minor grip, I know, but I really don't like #TheHundred helmets.

Naomi Dattani smashing it all over Edgbaston? That, I like.

— The Hundred Club (@thehundredclub1) July 23, 2021

The top 5 of London Spirit are the best in the comp. All are very good all-rounders offering different variety. #TheHundred

Deandra Dottin (RHB + RAP)
Naomi Dattani (LHB + LAP)
Heather Knight (RHB + RAO)
Deepti Sharma (LHB + RAO)
Chloe Tryon (RHB + SLAO)

Potential winners!

— Jeet Vachharajani🎯 (@Jeetv27) July 23, 2021