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 9-0

    Target 139

    Steve Smith plays the ball up to extra cover and sneaks through for a single to get his innings under way.

  2. How's stat?!

    Ashwanth R Kavuluri
    CricViz analyst

    Welsh Fire have won just five games while chasing, with 13 losses, joint-second lowest wins in The Hundred.

    They have successfully chased targets of 164 and 159 - their highest in the competition, so chasing 139 shouldn't be impossible for them here.

  3. Fire 8-0

    Target 139

    Okay, we're only five balls into the innings so this statement is way too premature, but I'll make it anyway.

    It's so far, so good for this Stephen Eskinazi up the order experiment from Welsh Fire (although he does open a lot for Middlesex). He hits back-to-back boundaries off Trent Boult.

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

    A lovely shot by Stephen Eskinazi, just a little bit over pitched by Trent Boult.

    It can be dangerous in Welsh Fire's position. You have to come out and take the game on.

  5. Fire 4-0

    Target 139

    And Stephen Eskinazi is off the mark. Four over Trent Boult's head.

  6. Fire 0-0

    Target 139

    Trent Boult opens the bowling to Stephen Eskinazi, who has been promoted up the order after being carded to come in at seven. A dot ball.

  7. The players are back out.

    Stephen Eskinazi and Steve Smith will open the batting for Welsh Fire, who are chasing 139 to stay in the competition.

  8. Here is Ben Kellaway, who Sam mentioned is having a Hundred debut to remember.

    He's carded to bat at number five for Welsh Fire tonight.

    Ben KellawayPA Media

  9. Ashwanth R Kavuluri
    CricViz analyst

    Tonight, Riley Meredith picked up two wickets.

    He has a tally of 52 T20 wickets this year - the most he has taken in a calendar year (his previous best of 25 wickets in 2022).

    He is also averaging 16 this year - his best in a calendar year.

  10. Thanks Sam.

    Phoenix's 138-9 feels a bit under par to me but pressure can do funny things in cricket - and Welsh Fire have to win this match to keep any faint hope of qualifying for the knockout stages alive.

  11. Fire need 139 to win

    Plenty to talk about in that innings, some enormous sixes, an astonishing moustache, a couple of brilliant catches and a very handy debut from Ben Kellaway.

    The off-spinner took two wickets, three catches (including one off his own bowling) and a run out. Not bad.

    Anyway, at the end of all that, Welsh Fire need 139 to win and keep their slim qualifications hope alive.

    To see if that can manage it, it's over to Elizabeth Botcherby.

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

    Chris Green bowled a fast yorker to finish the innings and Trent Boult missed it completely. No-one really went on for a big score.

  13. wicket

    WICKET

    Boult b Green 7 (Phoenix 138-9)

    Six and out.

    Trent Boult launches Chris Green over long-on from the penultimate ball but then swings and misses at a quicker to finish the innings.

    Green was bang on the money and claims his third wicket.

    An innings from Birmingham Phoenix that threatened to get going on numerous occasions but never really did.

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

    Jacob Bethell was eyeing up a six there. He is furious with himself.

    He had some lovely shots in that innings but has fallen at a crucial time.

  15. wicket

    WICKET

    Bethell c Kellaway b Green 38 (Phoenix 130-8)

    Maybe he should have taken that single after all...

    Jacob Bethell goes back and tries to launch the ball over the leg side.

    He doesn't middle it, though, and it's that man again... Ben Kellaway takes the catch.

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

    Riley Meredith of Welsh FireGetty Images

    Riley Meredith does get the line right but it was just too short. He needs to get fuller to restrict Jacob Bethell's options.

  17. Phoenix 130-7

    Jacob Bethell of Birmingham PhoenixGetty Images

    Jacob Bethell gets just enough elevation to clear the fielder at mid-on. An important boundary for Phoenix.

    The left-hander then wallops the ball to Steve Smith at long-off but turns down the single.

    With five balls left, it makes sense for him to keep strike, I suppose.

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

    Ben Kellaway has held his own on the field on his Hundred debut. It is brilliant awareness from him to swoop in for that wicket.

    Adam Milne was already walking off. He knew he was short.

  19. wicket

    WICKET

    Milne run out (Kellaway) 0 (Phoenix 124-7)

    Carnage - but the outcome is that Adam Milne has been run out.

    Bouncer from Riley Meredith, Milne tries to pull it but the ball comes off the toe-end of the bat and back towards the bowler.

    Meredith can't hold on to a one-handed return catch in his follow-through but Milne calls for a single as the ball rolls to mid-on.

    Ben Kellaway is alert to it, though, and swoops to throw down the stumps with Milne well short.

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

    A fantastic catch from David Payne. He has just bowled and probably wanted some time to repress but takes a superman-like catch. A little bit of redemption.