Steve Smith steered Welsh Fire to a comfortable eight-wicket victory at Edgbaston to leave Birmingham Phoenix with a mountain to climb to qualify for the Eliminator and keep their own slim hopes alive.
Match Analysis
Set 139 for victory, the Fire, who started the evening bottom of the table, reached their target with 11 balls to spare, Stevie Eskinazi breaking the back of the chase with a 29-ball 42 before Smith (47 not out from 36) scripted a comprehensive win.
The Australian legend has struggled for form in his first season of The Hundred, making a top score of 29 in his first five knocks, but he played sensibly while Eskinazi and Jonny Bairstow (35 from 21) provided the pyrotechnics at the other end.
Bairstow dispatched Adam Milne into the Hollies Stand with an almighty six, only to be bowled by the Kiwi’s next delivery, but skipper Tom Abell took his side over the line with plenty to spare.
The Phoenix’s innings was a disjointed affair, with several batters making starts but no one able to grab the game by the scruff of the neck.
After Aussie quick Riley Meredith cleaned up Ben Duckett for 5 via an inside edge, Will Smeed (23 from 17), Joe Clarke (24 from 12) and Liam Livingstone (16 from 9) all played eye-catching strokes but failed to kick on.
Jacob Bethell hit three sixes in his stylish knock of 38 from 28 but the Fire’s finger spinners never let the Phoenix cut loose, Chris Green taking 3-27 including the scalp of Bethell, caught at long-on in the final set, while Ben Kellaway bowled superbly to return figures of 2-10 from 15 deliveries, also taking a catch and effecting a run-out on a memorable debut in The Hundred for the Glamorgan youngster.
The hosts’ final total of 138-9 felt under par and so it proved as Fire went on to claim their second win of the campaign and move up to seventh in the table, eight points behind third with two matches still to play. The Phoenix remain in fifth, ahead of the Fire on net run rate.
Meerkat Match Hero, Ben Kellaway, said: “I’m absolutely delighted. Making my debut in the first place was special enough, so to contribute for the team and get a win was really nice.
“It’s been a really enjoyable first few weeks. It’s all new experiences for me but the lads have been amazing, we’ve had a great time. Results haven’t quite gone our way early on but the way we’ve been as a group and the enjoyment we’ve had, it’s been good stuff.
“We want to keep playing hard cricket, keep doing the basics well and hopefully we can win the last two games and we’ll see what happens.”
Match Summary
Birmingham Phoenix vs Welsh Fire Match 24
Birmingham Phoenix 138/9 (100 balls)
Welsh Fire 140/2 (89 balls)
Result – Welsh Fire won by 8 wickets
SCORECARD
It’s a double win for Welsh Fire! ??#TheHundred | #RoadToTheEliminator pic.twitter.com/qcgPmi8cpz
— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 22, 2025
Match Stats
Birmingham Phoenix Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Ben Duckett – 2.3 ov), 2-51 (Joe Clarke – 6.2 ov), 3-58 (Will Smeed – 7.5 ov), 4-76 (Liam Livingstone – 9.4 ov), 5-85 (Louis Kimber – 11.5 ov), 6-124 (Benny Howell – 18.1 ov), 7-124 (Adam Milne – 18.3 ov), 8-130 (Jacob Bethell – 19.1 ov), 9-138 (Trent Boult – 19.5 ov)
Welsh Fire Fall of wickets: 1-72 (Stephen Eskinazi – 9.1 ov), 2-122 (Jonny Bairstow – 16.2 ov)
Wagon Wheel
Playing XI
Birmingham Phoenix (Men)
Welsh Fire (Men)
Match Details:
Date: Friday, August 22, 2025 18:30
Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham
Toss: Welsh Fire (Men) elected to bowl
Umpires: Alex Wharf (England) Ian Blackwell (England) Neil Bainton (England TV)
Match Referee: Simon Hinks (England)
© Cricket World 2025
