Birmingham Phoenix v Welsh Fire women, Edgbaston
Fire beat Phoenix by 36 runs to pick up first win of 2025 season
Result also eliminates Phoenix from contention
Fire 150-3 (100 balls): Dunkley 53 (43), Jonassen 44 (17); Schutt 2-11
Phoenix 114-9 (100 balls): Perry 55 (43); Ismail 3-16
Image source, Getty ImagesThat's your lot for now, folks. But don't worry, we'll be back very shortly for the men's game.
For now, you can enjoy Elizabeth Botcherby's report as Welsh Fire claimed their first win of the campaign to end Birmingham Phoenix's hopes are making the knockout stages.
Thanks for joining us, be sure to do so again in a few minutes!
Welsh Fire captain Tammy Beaumont speaking on Sky Sports: "A bit of relief getting the win. It has not been anywhere near how we wanted it to go but the senior players really stepped up today.
"For the last few games we have tried to show what we are about and show some fight. We nearly scraped over the line at home but today we got more of a rub of the green."
On opening: "It didn't work did it! The batting line-up hasn't fired this season so we felt like we needed to change it up. Nothing against Hayley Matthews but we needed to try something different."
Welsh Fire all-rounder Jess Jonassen, speaking on Sky Sports: "I got some luck with the bat but we are pleased to get some points on the board at last."
On hitting four sixes in a row: "I can't say I would be top of the list for that! I had the match helping my favour and I wanted to take the game on. It came off. Super pleased to get the job done."
On her bowling: "It was about bowling a mixture of lengths and pace. It was one of those wickets where you never felt fully in so it was hard to time the ball. You had to keep the stumps in play as well.
"We have been searching for a win all season. It was great that things clicked with the bat today. We still have things to improve on but we are looking forward to our next match."
Jess Jonassen is the match hero after adding 3-24 with the ball to her 44 from 17 balls.
We'll have quotes from her post-match interview shortly but, in the meantime, why not enjoy watching her smash four sixes in a row?
'Would you believe it?' - Fire's Jonassen hits four sixes in a row
Ashwanth R Kavuluri
CricViz analyst
Biggest wins for Welsh Fire (W) while defending a total:
This is Welsh Fire’s biggest win while defending away from home, and their second-biggest win overall.
Josh Cobb
Former Northants batter on Radio 5 Sports Extra
On paper Welsh Fire have a good team. This will remind them of that and they will be looking to finish strongly.
Sophia Dunkley set the tone from the top and Jess Jonassen had such a special innings to get them to a match winning score.
Phoenix 114-9
Welsh Fire have their first win of the tournament. Birmingham Phoenix are eliminated.
Despite the best efforts of Ellyse Perry, that outcome seemed pretty much nailed on for much of the chase.
Josh Cobb
Former Northants batter on Radio 5 Sports Extra
In these scenarios, you do feel like the players should just shake hands and declare. At number 11, you don't want to have to pad up and come in.
Mary Taylor b Matthews 2 (Phoenix 112-9)
Gone.
Mary Taylor comes charges down the pitch to Hayley Matthews, has a massive swing, misses and is bowled.
We're nearly done here, folks.
Schutt c Dunkley b Matthews 3 (Phoenix 111-8)
There goes another one.
Megan Schutt chips the ball out to Sophia Dunkley at deep mid-wicket and Hayley Matthews has a second wicket.
Four balls left before the inevitable is confirmed.
Need another 40 to win
Barring some huge ill-discipline from Welsh Fire, this game is over.
Birmingham Phoenix need 40 from five balls.
Ashwanth R Kavuluri
CricViz analyst
Shabnim Ismail and Jess Jonassen have each bowled one maiden (a 5-ball set with no runs scored) today. This is the first instance of a team bowling two maidens in an innings this season.
Daniel Norcross
Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Image source, Getty ImagesThat is basically the match. A defining innings comes to an end for Ellyse Perry.
She just had no support whatsoever from the Birmingham Phoenix batters.
Perry c Jonassen b Ismail 53 (Phoenix 108-7)
Image source, Getty ImagesGone this time - the end of Ellyse Perry's fine knock.
The Aussie tries to hit over mid-off - it was a case of every ball must go - but doesn't time it well at all and it barely carries to Jess Jonassen.
She just about gets her fingers under the ball as it dips on her and Perry has to go. Welsh Fire are going to claim their first win of the year.
Daniel Norcross
Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
What is Alex Griffiths wearing on her feet? Are there definitely spikes on those?
Phoenix 108-6
Tough chance but a chance nonetheless.
Ellyse Perry heaves the ball out to deep square leg but Alex Griffiths shells it.
Griffiths has had a torrid time in the field but at least it doesn't look like it will cost her team the win!
Josh Cobb
Former Northants batter on Radio 5 Sports Extra
This is great execution from Freya Davies bowling these wide yorkers to this field.
Need another 45 to win
Superb from Freya Davies. She ends her 20-ball spell wicketless but having conceded just 19 runs.
The game is pretty much up for Birmingham Phoenix. More than four runs a ball required now.
Even Ellyse Perry can't save them from here.
Ashwanth R Kavuluri
CricViz analyst
First fifty for Ellyse Perry in this year's Hundred, and just the second for Birmingham Phoenix this season. It’s her fourth fifty overall in The Hundred.
Need another 49 to win
Ellyse Perry finds the middle of the bat and thumps the ball back straight, it flicks off Jess Jonassen's fingertip and onto the stumps at the non-striker's end - but Megan Schutt had never left her crease.
A single follows and Welsh Fire will take that, it means Perry is off strike with the required rate climbing sharply, ball on ball.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Dots | 4s | 6s | Minutes | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dunkley,bowled Baker Dunkley, bowled Baker | 53 | 43 | 16 | 6 | 1 | 51 | 123.26 |
Beaumont,bowled Schutt Beaumont, bowled Schutt | 2 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 33.33 |
Matthews,not out Matthews, not out | 34 | 33 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 55 | 103.03 |
Jonassen,caught Kelly, bowled Schutt Jonassen, caught Kelly, bowled Schutt | 44 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 18 | 258.82 |
Elwiss,not out Elwiss, not out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 100.00 |
Extras, no balls 0, wides 6, byes 5, leg byes 5, total 16 Extras, no balls 0, wides 6, byes 5, leg byes 5, total 16 | |||||||
Total,150 for 3 100 balls Total,150 for 3 100 balls |
| Bowler | Balls | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Dots | No balls | Wides | 4s | 6s | Economy rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Schutt | 20 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.30 |
Perry | 10 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 14.40 |
Taylor | 20 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 10.20 |
Voll | 20 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5.10 |
Baker | 20 | 0 | 39 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 11.70 |
Lamb | 10 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9.00 |
| Fall of wicket | Batter |
|---|---|
28 for 1 (21 balls) | Beaumont |
99 for 2 (72 balls) | Dunkley |
149 for 3 (98 balls) | Jonassen |
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Dots | 4s | 6s | Minutes | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Voll,bowled Jonassen Voll, bowled Jonassen | 29 | 18 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 33 | 161.11 |
Lamb,bowled Ismail Lamb, bowled Ismail | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.00 |
Kelly,leg before wicket, bowled Ismail Kelly, leg before wicket, bowled Ismail | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 |
Perry,caught Elwiss, bowled Ismail Perry, caught Elwiss, bowled Ismail | 55 | 43 | 17 | 7 | 1 | 61 | 127.91 |
Jones,bowled Matthews Jones, bowled Matthews | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 |
Kalis,caught Ismail, bowled Jonassen Kalis, caught Ismail, bowled Jonassen | 15 | 16 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 93.75 |
Lister,caught Ismail, bowled Jonassen Lister, caught Ismail, bowled Jonassen | 4 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 57.14 |
Schutt,caught Dunkley, bowled Matthews Schutt, caught Dunkley, bowled Matthews | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 60.00 |
Taylor,bowled Matthews Taylor, bowled Matthews | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 66.67 |
Ellis,not out Ellis, not out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 100.00 |
Baker,not out Baker, not out | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 100.00 |
Extras, no balls 0, wides 2, byes 0, leg byes 1, total 3 Extras, no balls 0, wides 2, byes 0, leg byes 1, total 3 | |||||||
Total,114 for 9 100 balls Total,114 for 9 100 balls |
| Bowler | Balls | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Dots | No balls | Wides | 4s | 6s | Economy rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ismail | 20 | 1 | 16 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4.80 |
Davies | 20 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5.70 |
Jonassen | 20 | 1 | 24 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7.20 |
Matthews | 20 | 0 | 21 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6.30 |
Levick | 10 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7.80 |
Davis | 10 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 12.00 |
| Fall of wicket | Batter |
|---|---|
5 for 1 (4 balls) | Lamb |
5 for 2 (6 balls) | Kelly |
61 for 3 (45 balls) | Voll |
61 for 4 (46 balls) | Jones |
91 for 5 (70 balls) | Kalis |
100 for 6 (82 balls) | Lister |
108 for 7 (92 balls) | Perry |
111 for 8 (96 balls) | Schutt |
112 for 9 (98 balls) | Taylor |
