Summary

  • Use audio icon at the top of the page to listen to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra commentary

  • Fire recover from 15-3 to chase 110 with six wickets in hand

  • Abell finishes 37 not out and Phillips 21 not out

  • Result keeps both sides in play-off contention

  • Spirit recover from 19-4 off 28 balls to post 109-9

  • England Test opener Crawley makes two off 11 balls

  1. Good nightpublished at 21:03 British Summer Time 20 August 2023

    That's yer lot for today. Do a take a read of Sam Drury's report of this match.

    Join us tomorrow for an Oval Invincibles and Trent Rockets double-header. The women get us underway at 15:00 BST, with the men following at 18:30.

  2. Postpublished at 21:01 British Summer Time 20 August 2023

    Jonny Bairstow put on 54 with Tom Abell in the middle of the innings before Liam Dawson took the wicket of the England batter.

    But Abell accelerated alongside new batter Glenn Phillips, who finished the innings with a six.

    Media caption,

    Phillips hits Bopara for six

  3. Postpublished at 20:58 British Summer Time 20 August 2023

    Stevie Eskinazi had a rather chaotic start at the top of the order for Fire, striking this ridiculous six before being dismissed by Dan Worrall.

  4. Postpublished at 20:57 British Summer Time 20 August 2023

    Matthew Wade offered this fantastic shot, but Spirit continued to lose wickets.

  5. Postpublished at 20:55 British Summer Time 20 August 2023

    Let's take a look at some highlights, shall we?

    It was an explosive start as David Willey and Matt Henry combined to see Spirit 19-4.

  6. Postpublished at 20:51 British Summer Time 20 August 2023

    Match Hero, Welsh Fire's Tom Abell: "I'm very happy. We came into tonight desperate for a win with finals not far away - it still feels like we are in the hunt. I'm chuffed for the boys.

    "We had to adapt to the wicket and it helps when you have a world-class bowling line-up. We knew any chase would be tricky but it was a case of trying to take wickets but building pressure throughout the middle. I thought the lads stuck to their plans brilliantly and it was backed up by some good fielding.

    "We had the luxury of learning from the first innings and it looked tricky first up. Credit to [Dan] Worrall for his spell. When I got in it was just about building a partnership and taking the game as deep as we could.

    "I was really happy we could get a win in our last home game for our home fans. It feels like we've played some good cricket in the tournament and it was really pleasing to get another win infront of our fans."

  7. Postpublished at 20:51 British Summer Time 20 August 2023

    Welsh Fire leapfrog their opponents to move up to fifth. They now have seven points, as do the two teams above them. Third-place Trent Rockets currently hold onto the final knock-out position, but everything can change with one game to play.

    Spirit are one point behind, with only Birmingham Phoenix out of contention for the knock-out stages.

  8. Postpublished at 20:47 British Summer Time 20 August 2023

    Well, it was relatively soporific at times as Fire worked the singles in the middle of the innings.

    But that target didn't look defendable and so it proved, Fire played relatively risk-free cricket before some big hitting from Glenn Phillips and Tom Abell saw the chase concluded with plenty of balls to spare.

  9. 6 runs

    Fire win by six wicketspublished at 7 balls left

    Glenn Phillips finishes it with a six!

    He sends Ellis high down the ground, the ball thudding into the black mesh that enshrouds the seats behind the wicket.

  10. Fire 104-4published at 8 balls left

    6 runs needed

    Nathan Ellis starts with a dot, before Abell guides the ball down to deep third for a single.

  11. Fire 103-4published at 10 balls left

    7 runs needed

    The Fire batters race through for three off Mitchell's next delivery, bringing up the 100.

    Phillips takes two more to square leg.

  12. 6 runs

    Fire 96-4published at 13 balls left

    12 runs needed

    Having stuck to five bowlers, Spirit choose this point to introduce a sixth in Daryl Mitchell.

    The move doesn't pay off, Abell drives his first ball down the ground for four and follows with a glorious six to the same area, just clearing the rope.

  13. Fire 88-4published at 15 balls left

    22 runs needed

    Ellis absolutely rattles through a delivery that beats Phillips and scuds past the stumps.

    The New Zealander then tries to pull his Trans-Tasman rival but can't get on top of the delivery and can only find the fielder.

    Another pull from Abell is cut off on the boundary by Daryl Mitchell.

  14. Fire 84-4published at 20 balls left

    26 runs needed

    Dawson draws a leading edge from Phillips which skews up into the covers and drops safely.

    The England spinner finishes with 1-20.

  15. Fire 79-4published at 25 balls left

    31 runs needed

    Abell hustles through two from Bopara's final delivery, pushing the ball into the leg-side.

  16. 6 runs

    Fire 76-4published at 27 balls left

    Glenn Phillips has no time for being cautious!

    He sends Bopara for a massive six over mid-wicket to get off the mark.

    Media caption,

    Phillips hits Bopara for six

  17. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 31 balls left

    Bairstow b Dawson 40 (Fire 69-4)

    Dawson has the breakthrough!

    Bairstow shows a bit of impetus, smacking the spinner down the ground for a four that hits the rope foam square and sends it flying.

    But perhaps he'll wish he'd kept to his watchful approach as Dawson slows it down and beats the England batter ends up.

    Bairstow departs for 40 from 38, the partnership 54 from 50 balls. In comes Glenn Phillips.

  18. Fire 63-3published at 35 balls left

    47 runs needed

    Nathan Ellis returns and starts with a sharp short delivery. Bairstow drops his hands and watches the ball go by.

    Bairstow turns the next ball around the corner and takes two down to fine-leg, where the ball is cut off by Ravi Bopara.

  19. Fire 59-3published at 40 balls left

    51 runs needed

    A four! For the first time in 36 balls!

    Dragged short by Ravi Bopara and it sits up nicely for Abell to dispatch the ball to the mid-wicket boundary.

    We'll have a strategic time-out, presumably because everyone had forgotten what a boundary was and they need to discuss it.

  20. Fire 50-3published at 45 balls left

    60 runs needed

    Liam DawsonImage source, Getty Images

    Bairstow bleeds three consecutive twos from the bowling of Liam Dawson as Fire edge towards this total.

    31 balls since the last boundary.