Tammy Beaumont does not want to go back to the ‘dungeon’.

Rewind to this time last season, and Beaumont’s Welsh Fire were sheltering in the dungeon’-like indoor school below The Oval, as rain prevented them of having a proper shot at the Eliminator against Northern Superchargers.

“We were all quite grumpy last year having to be down there,” Beaumont reflected.

“It’s been a bit of a joke around the team this season. Let’s keep qualification for the final in our hands and avoid the dungeon and coming third again.”

The Fire have certainly done that, winning five of their eight matches and going straight into Sunday’s final at Lord’s thanks to a first place finish.

Not having to play in the eliminator has had its benefits. The previous two winners – Oval Invincibles and Southern Brave – both won the ‘league’ stage of the competition before triumphing in the showpiece final.

“We are just really excited to see what a Lord’s Hundred final encompasses,” said Beaumont.

“I’m very proud of the girls to have got to this point. I’d have snapped your hand off at the start of the season if you’d said we’d be in a Lord’s final.

“Last year was frustrating but to back up those efforts, that’s outstanding.”

Consistency is Key

After a vast improvement from back-to-back eighth place finishes with third last season, the message from Beaumont and head coach Gareth Breese was one of consistency.

Of the regulars in the team, only Australian international Jess Jonassen and Georgia Davis have been new additions. In a competition whose draft system promotes signings rather than continuity, the Fire have been rewarded for their bravery.

“We’ve had different people contribute at different times throughout the competition and I think that is because of that consistency,” Beaumont explained.

“I think of Georgia Davis and Sarah Bryce in particular against the Trent Rockets.

“Teams can often rely on overseas players or England internationals in this competition but the fact that we’ve had so many contributors and kept that real core from last season was the key.”

Hayley Matthews: Best in the World

Even with contributions across the board, Hayley Matthews and Jonassen stand out among the Fire squad. Both seasoned internationals, West Indies captain Matthews has been arguably the player of the tournament, while Jonassen is second in the wicket taking charts with 12 in seven games.

They have formed a formidable spin attack with Georgia Davis, in a competition where spin has been going the distance, Welsh Fire have stood out amongst the pack.

“Hayley [Matthews] is going from strength to strength as the competition has gone on, particularly with the ball,” Beaumont added.

“She is absolutely world class with bat and ball. She’s is one of the ‘OGs’ that have been with Welsh Fire for all four seasons of The Hundred and played pretty much every game in the team’s history.

“For me, as well, with her being an international captain, I can really bounce ideas off her in the field. We’ve got to the point now where if she wants to change something or bring herself on to ball, she just comes and does it.

“To be able to add someone with the class of Jess Jonassen to the squad too has been amazing.”

London Calling

With the too London sides – Spirit and Invincibles – battling it out in the Eliminator on Saturday, Beaumont is not concerned about who the Fire will face in the final.

“We’ll take on anybody,” Beaumont said.

“Both teams are really strong, but we’ve beaten strong teams to get where we are.

“With it played at Lord’s, at Spirit’s home ground, they will have a small advantage there and Oval Invincibles have won the competition twice themselves so they’ve got favourable memories of the ground too.

“I don’t mind who we face at the end of the day. Whoever wins the game will have to play the best cricket on the day.

“We’re happy to take anyone on.”

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