Summary

  • 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

Live Reporting

by Sam Drury & Elizabeth Botcherby

  1. Daniel Norcross
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    That is horrible. It turned into the pad and deflected onto the stumps.

    Not a great first shot.

  2. wicket

    WICKET

    Jones b Matthews 0 (Phoenix 61-4)

    Amy Jones is gone first ball!

    Just as Birmingham Phoenix looked to be getting themselves back into this chase, they lose two in two balls.

    Full, flat delivery from Hayley Matthews and Jones plays all round it. The ball ricochets off her pad and onto the stumps.

  3. Ffion Wynne
    BBC Sport cricket writer on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Lovely bowing from Jess Jonassen. She saw Georgia Voll coming towards her so dropped it shorter. A good strike rate from Voll.

    The Australia veteran gets the young gun.

  4. wicket

    WICKET

    Voll b Jonassen 29 (Phoenix 61-3)

    Jess Jonassen of Welsh FireGetty Images

    Bowled 'er - no disputing that one.

    Goergia Voll comes charging down the track to Jess Jonassen but is beaten in the flight, plays a horrid shot as she realises she's been done... and is bowled.

  5. 6 runs

    Phoenix 60-2

    Target 151

    Nailed over long off by Ellyse Perry!

    Six - and after a slow start, she is into her stride now.

  6. Daniel Norcross
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    That was horrendous from Alex Griffiths.

  7. Phoenix 53-2

    Target 151

    Oh dear, of dear. You have to watch for the spin...

    Thumped out to the leg side boundary by Georgia Voll, fielder Alex Griffiths is comfortably round to it but then watches in horror as it spins and goes through her legs for four.

    Not a fun afternoon in the field for Griffiths so far.

  8. Ffion Wynne
    BBC Sport cricket writer on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    A superb shot from Elyse Perry.

    That's what she can do, she can catch up quickly. It comes with an element of risk but if you make the most of it you can save your side.

  9. Phoenix 49-2

    Target 151

    Four more for Ellyse Perry and it's another lovely shot.

    Down the track again and whipping over mid-wicket this time. Phoenix have got the momentum now...

  10. Ffion Wynne
    BBC Sport cricket writer on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    That was begging to be hit for four. Short and down the leg-side from Georgia Davis.

  11. Phoenix 43-2

    Target 151

    Filthy long hop from Georgia Davis and Ellyse Perry will not miss out on those.

    Clubbed away behind square for four.

  12. Phoenix 39-2

    Target 151

    Cut away square by Ellyse Perry for two to end the five-ball set.

    A good spell for Phoenix but still plenty of work to be done.

  13. Phoenix 37-2

    Target 151

    That's the Ellyse Perry of old.

    A couple of steps down the track and she lofts the ball high over extra cover, one bounce for four.

    It was tossed up by Katie Levick and Perry was happy to take it on.

  14. Daniel Norcross
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    I feel for Alex Griffiths out there. She slipped and just had to watch the ball fly past her.

  15. Ffion Wynne
    BBC Sport cricket writer on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    The positives for Birmingham Phoenix are that their two best batters are still in the middle. They don't have the momentum yet and are still resettling.

    The body language of the Welsh Fire is looking confident.

  16. Phoenix 31-2

    Target 151

    Heaved over the leg side by Georgia Voll.

    Four more for the Aussie opener to welcome Hayley Matthews into the attack.

    Another boundary - cut away in front of square this time.

    Make that three fours in the set as Voll gets down to sweep firmly behind square.

    It would have been just a single but for an almost comedic slip from Alex Griffiths in the deep. Much-needed runs for the home side, though.

  17. Matt Floyd
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    A very good powerplay for the Fire. The Phoenix are a long way off this total.

  18. Despite that escape for Georgia Voll, Welsh Fire remain the overwhelming favourites, according to WinViz...

    WinVizCricViz

  19. Ffion Wynne
    BBC Sport cricket writer on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Ellyse Perry knows she will have to bat all the way through this innings. There is Amy Jones and not much else.

    She is harbouring that responsibility.

  20. Phoenix 18-2

    Target 151

    Sharp short ball from Shabnim Ismail, it rushes Ellyse Perry but the Australian gets a top-edge as she attempts to hook and the ball goes over the wicketkeeper and away for four.

    Powerplay over, though, and Welsh Fire are well on top.