Postpublished at 19:27 British Summer Time 10 August 2023
Roelof van der Merwe can do everything. Here he shows how it's possible to plank and take a catch at the same time.
Image source, Getty ImagesSummary
Abell (23) & Willey (15) see Fire to victory after brief wobble
Eskinazi gets Fire off to perfect start with classy 43 off 18 balls
Fire now joint-top on five points but Phoenix remain winless
Phoenix limp to 112-7 - Livingstone top-scoring with 28
Two wickets apiece for Rauf, Payne & Van der Merwe
Postpublished at 19:27 British Summer Time 10 August 2023
Image source, Getty ImagesPhoenix 87-4published at 75 balls
Oooh! Fire almost have a fifth as Dan Mousley slog sweeps, but the ball bounces just in front of Luke Wells at square leg.
He does well to avoid being hit in the face, it's one of those where you've got to choose between the catch and your teeth.
Phoenix 82-4published at 70 balls
Roelof van der Merwe is having a very good day out so far.
Postpublished at 19:18 British Summer Time 10 August 2023
Thea Brookes
Former Birmingham Phoenix all-rounder on BBC RadioWow. That awareness - or guesswork - I've got no idea what you call that but it was sensational.
WICKETpublished at 67 balls
Moeen c Van der Merwe b Payne 17 (Phoenix 80-4)
Or not!
David Payne fights back and what a grab from Roelof van der Merwe! Moeen tries to go for back-to-back sixes but only succeeds in top-edging the ball high, high into the air.
Van der Merwe steadies himself under it at mid-off, drops it, juggles it, and then eventually sticks out a hand and completes the catch with the ball centimetres off the ground.
He even finishes it with a 'mic drop' celebration! So good.
Phoenix 80-3published at 66 balls
Image source, Getty ImagesHere we go!
Moeen Ali joins the party with a massive hit of his own, this time off David Payne.
Phoenix are waking up.
Postpublished at 19:14 British Summer Time 10 August 2023
Aatif Nawaz
BBC Test Match Special commentatorMy goodness, that is vintage Liam Livingstone! When he hits the ball, it goes a long, long way!
Phoenix 74-3published at 65 balls
Huge! 102 metres, to be exact!
Unable to find any timing off the other bowlers, Liam Livingstone takes a fancy to Ben Green.
This one's nailed straight down the ground and into the stands.
Phoenix 65-3published at 60 balls
Brilliant from Haris Rauf.
He's regularly hitting speeds of 90mph or more, and neither Livingstone or Moeen can find any timing.
The last ball flies down to third man off the edge for a single, leaving Rauf looking a little speechless that he hasn't got a wicket with any one of those balls.
Postpublished at 19:10 British Summer Time 10 August 2023
Roelof van der Merwe couldn't quite believe that this ball managed to get him a wicket!
Phoenix 61-3published at 55 balls
Image source, Getty ImagesLivingstone gets off the mark with a thick outside edge that just evades the fielder at short third.
Luke Wells' bowling looks quite questionable, but it has been pretty effective. Suggests Livingstone himself will have a role to play with the ball later.
Postpublished at 19:06 British Summer Time 10 August 2023
Thea Brookes
Former Birmingham Phoenix all-rounder on BBC RadioGreat response from Haris Rauf. Full, straight and just a teeny bit of movement off the wicket. It is all going Welsh Fire's way.
WICKETpublished at 50 balls
Smith b Rauf 11 (Phoenix 53-3)
Straight through! Full and fast does the trick for Haris Rauf.
Jamie Smith played a glorious shot for four from the previous ball but Rauf wins the battle. He pitches the ball up and crashes through Smith's defence.
Liam Livingstone joins his England team-mate Moeen Ali in the middle.
Postpublished at 19:02 British Summer Time 10 August 2023
Charlie Taylor
BBC RadioBoth Welsh Fire teams - men's and women's - are transformed from 2022 when they couldn't buy a win. The men's team lost every game last year.
Phoenix 46-2published at 45 balls
Moeen Ali and Jamie Smith tick the singles off Ben Green's first five balls. They'll be hoping to set a decent platform for Liam Livingstone to come in and have a bit of fun at the end of the innings.
Postpublished at 18:59 British Summer Time 10 August 2023
Thea Brookes
Former Birmingham Phoenix all-rounder on BBC RadioYou can hear the roar of the crowd. We know who that's for as Moeen Ali struts to the crease.
But this is not what Birmingham Phoenix would have hoped for. They've got some incredibly destructive players but it's all been a bit slow so far.
WICKETpublished at 38 balls
Duckett c Rauf b Van der Merwe 20 (Phoenix 41-2)
Van der Merwe has two!
Ben Duckett is livid with himself. It's a filthy ball from Van der Merwe, down the leg side and Duckett tries to sweep it on its way.
It's literally begging to be hit for four but he somehow hits it straight into the hands of a grateful Haris Rauf at short fine leg.
Postpublished at 18:56 British Summer Time 10 August 2023
Welsh Fire are containing the runs nicely, these boundaries from Ben Duckett quite a rare occurrence so far.
Phoenix 36-1published at 35 balls
Luke Wells is the next interesting bowling choice, twirling away with his part-time leg spin.
And it works, just five singles from it, as spin seems to be doing a handy job for Welsh Fire at the moment.
Postpublished at 18:51 British Summer Time 10 August 2023
Jack Leach
England spinner on BBC Radio 5 Sports ExtraRoelof van der Merwe is a brilliant, brilliant team-mate. The effort he puts in and his attitude on the field is unrivalled.