Summary

  • Brave move top of the table

  • Phoenix lose five wickets for 30 runs to only reach 129-8

  • Amy Jones run out by brilliant Bouchier throw from deep for 34

  • Brave 132-4: Wyatt 43 (33), Mandhana 39 (32)

  • Openers Wyatt & Mandhana put on 84

  • Arlott takes 2-22 for Phoenix

  1. Phoenix 18-1published at 90 balls left

    Target 133

    Aggressive start this from Sterre Kalis, who slog sweeps the last ball of the set for a one-bounce four.

  2. dropped catch

    Kalis dropped on 4published at 94 balls left

    Phoenix 11-1

    It's all happening!

    Sterre Kalis latches on to a short ball from Georgia Adams but smashes it to Chloe Tryon at mid-wicket, who makes a brilliant one-handed diving effort but can't cling on.

    It would have been a screamer.

  3. Phoenix 10-1published at 95 balls left

    Target 133

    A bit of everything in these first five balls!

    After the wicket, Sterre Kalis hits her first ball for four, Bell follows it with a wide and then closes it out with a dot.

  4. Postpublished at 16:29 British Summer Time 16 August 2023

    James Anderson
    England bowler on BBC Two

    Just looked like it hit the splice of the bat. It was a little bit shorter from Lauren Bell and Danni Wyatt doesn't drop those.

  5. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 97 balls left

    Devine c Wyatt b Bell 4 (Phoenix 5-1)

    Four and out!

    Lauren Bell strikes early for Southern Brave and it's the huge wicket of Sophie Devine.

    Again it's quite short but with the slow nature of the pitch, Devine has to try and force it and can only scoop the ball up to Danni Wyatt for a simple catch at mid-wicket.

    A horrible start for Phoenix.

  6. Phoenix 5-0published at 98 balls left

    And Sophie Devine wastes no time in getting their first boundary from the second ball!

    A tad short from Bell and she helps it on its way.

  7. Phoenix 1-0published at 99 balls left

    Target 134

    Eve Jones gets things going with a comfortable single off Lauren Bell.

  8. Postpublished at 16:26 British Summer Time 16 August 2023

    Eve Jones and Sophie Devine make their way to the middle to start Phoenix's chase.

    Devine found some form in her last outing with 53 from 34 balls against Oval Invincibles.

    Phoenix will need something similar from her today.

  9. Postpublished at 16:23 British Summer Time 16 August 2023

    Thanks, Sam.

    Brave are favourites then, but can Phoenix cause an upset? They're already out of contention for qualification, while a win all but secures a top three finish for the hosts.

  10. Postpublished at 16:21 British Summer Time 16 August 2023

    Not long until the Phoenix chase begins. Can they knock off these runs and claim their first win of the campaign or will the Brave move ever closer to a knockout place with a win?

    We'll soon find out and before we do, I'll hand you over to Ffion Wynne.

  11. Postpublished at 16:20 British Summer Time 16 August 2023

    Emily Arlott came on and broke the opening stand by bowling Danni Wyatt.

    She then got Smriti Mandhana lbw, albeit the left-hander would have survived had she gone for a review.

    That helps Phoenix slow Brave down for much of the rest of the innings and, on a pitch offering plenty of turn, Katie Levick ripped one past Georgia Adams to have her stumped late on...

  12. Postpublished at 16:18 British Summer Time 16 August 2023

    Southern Brave started well after opting to bat first with their dynamite opening pair of Danni Wyatt and Smriti Mandhana showing what they're all about...

  13. Postpublished at 16:16 British Summer Time 16 August 2023

    Heather Knight
    England captain on BBC Two

    I'd say it's just above par. Batting was definitely hard work out there.

    It'll be crucial that Birmingham Phoenix go hard in the powerplay and try and get ahead of the game during that passage of play.

  14. Postpublished at 16:14 British Summer Time 16 August 2023

    James Anderson
    England bowler on BBC Two

    I think it's a match-winning total. The pitch is turning and bouncing and the slower balls from the seamers are gripping in the pitch so it will be tough to chase.

  15. Brave 132-4published at 100 balls

    Maitlan Brown scrambles back for two from the last ball and just makes her ground.

    Only 17 runs from the last 15 balls for the Brave but the runs up top from Danni Wyatt and Smriti Mandhana have helped the hosts post a strong total on this surface.

  16. Brave 130-4published at 99 balls

    Super shot from Maitlan Brown as she bisects the fielders on the leg side perfectly with a strong sweep shot.

  17. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 96 balls

    Bouchier b Burns 19 (Brave 124-4)

    Gloved onto her own stumps.

    Maia Bouchier had moved a long way across, went for the sweep but the turn makes that trickier.

    The ball spins back, catches the glove and deflects onto the timbers.

  18. Brave 124-3published at 95 balls

    Katie Levick bowls 10 balls in a row either side of the timeout and it's an impressive set from the leggie.

    Just nine runs and the wicket of Georgia Adams.

    Five balls left and Chloe Tryon is in alongside Maia Bouchier.

  19. Postpublished at 16:06 British Summer Time 16 August 2023

    James Anderson
    England bowler on BBC Two

    It is turning sideways and sticking in the pitch. It is not easy for the batters.

    Southern Brave won't mind that because they've got runs on the board and chasing won't be easy on this.

  20. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 92 balls

    Adams st A Jones b Levick 9 (Brave 121-3)

    Big turn for Katie Levick and a simple stumping for Amy Jones.

    Georgia Adams misses with a big heave as the ball turns sharply away from her and stays a little low.

    Once Jones takes it, the rest is easy with Adams well out of her ground and making no attempt to get back.