Summary

  • Birmingham Phoenix v Welsh Fire men, The Hundred, Edgbaston

  • Fire chase 139 to win by eight wickets remaining with 11 balls to spare

  • Both sides still have slim chance of reaching knockouts but need to win both remaining games and hope results elsewhere go their way

  • Fire 140-2 (89 balls): Smith 47* (36), Eskinazi 42 (29)

  • Phoenix 138-9 (100 balls): Bethell 38 (28); Green 3-27

Livingstone hits roof with six - then dismissed moments later

Live Reporting

by Elizabeth Botcherby & Sam Drury

  1. Fire 112-1

    Need 27 runs

    Liam Livingstone recovers and concedes just a single from his next three deliveries.

    The required rate is a shade above a run-a-ball.

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

    This just feels like a matter of time. Liam Livingstone is looking to be the bowler that Jonny Bairstow wants to take down.

  3. Fire 111-1

    Need 28 runs

    Back-to-back fours for Jonny Bairstow against the spin of Liam Livingstone, sweeping this time.

  4. Fire 107-1

    Need 32 runs

    Pummelled. Jonny Bairstow finds a gap wide of mid-wicket and the ball rattles to the rope.

  5. Fire 103-1

    Need 36 runs

    Benny Howell temporarily halts the boundary biffing. Three singles and a leg bye.

    100 up for Welsh Fire. Howell finishes with 1-17.

  6. Josh Cobb
    Former Northants batter on Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Birmingham Phoenix struggled with losing so many wickets early on whereas Welsh Fire are in a great position with this many wickets in hand.

  7. Fire 99-1

    Need 40 runs

    16 runs knocked off the chase, 11 from the bat of Jonny Bairstow, who has raced to 16 (10).

  8. 6 runs

    Fire 98-1

    Need 41 runs

    That's more like it! Jonny Bairstow slogs Trent Boult for six.

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

    Jonny Bairstow is trying to get the ramp away but it was nowhere near convincing. He is just trying to use the pace on the ball.

  10. Fire 92-1

    Need 47 runs

    Another boundary for Welsh Fire. Jonny Bairstow went for an elaborate scoop, got himself in a muddle, nutmegs himself and it goes away for four leg byes.

  11. Fire 88-1

    Need 51 runs

    Top hand only from Jonny Bairstow! Trent Boult is dispatched down the ground for four.

  12. Fire 83-1

    Need 56 runs

    Welsh Fire are dealing in singles. Four knocked off their 139 total.

  13. Fire 80-1

    Need 59 runs

    Tim Southee makes a belated entrance into the attack. His first ball is knocked for a single by Jonny Bairstow.

  14. Fire 79-1

    Need 60 runs

    Steve Smith and Jonny Bairstow trade singles, poking four deliveries into the leg-side before Smith breaks the trend and goes into the off-side.

    Ticking along.

  15. Ashwanth R Kavuluri
    CricViz analyst

    That was just the second 50-plus opening partnership for Welsh Fire this season. In the first 50 balls of their innings, Welsh Fire have lost 20 wickets - the most by any team in the competition.

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

    Is there a bowler or five balls that the Welsh Fire can target. They are low on confidence in terms of chasing and you don't want to be leaving it too late.

    Can they be smart?

  17. Fire 74-1

    Need 65 runs

    Well, Birmingham Phoenix made a breakthrough shortly before the halfway mark, but with 50 balls remaining, Welsh Fire only need 65 runs to win.

    Phoenix were 76-4 at the same stage.

    Steve Smith has 26 (19) while new batter Jonny Bairstow has 1 (2.

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

    Stephen Eskinazi got that out the middle of the bat, he cannot believe it. Benny Howell barely had a second to think about that and he reacted so quickly.

    That was the magic they needed.

  19. wicket

    WICKET

    Eskinazi c&b Howell 42 (Fire 72-1)

    That was so nonchalant from Benny Howell.

    Stephen Eskinazi pummels the ball back towards the bowler, Howell takes the catch two-handed, almost in front of his face, and saunters away in celebration.

  20. Fire 72-0

    Target 139

    Welsh Fire need 67 runs off 55 balls. The required rate is creeping down towards 1.2 runs per ball.