- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR7.5 picks out deep midwicket! On a length outside off, Smeed had got himself stuck and decided it was time for a release shot. Looks to drag him over the leg side from deep in the crease, but Kellaway hardly had to move 58/32.3 knocks him over! Low full toss, angling across the left-hander, but Duckett plays too far away from his body and can only deflect it straight onto the base of his stumps via the inside edge! 90mph, the pace works its magic. Duckett trudges off 12/16.2 loops up, and Kellaway settles underneath it! Another offbreak, speared in halfway down. Clarke shaped to pull him into the stands but got a fat top edge, and Kellaway ran forward to take a simple catch. What a start on Fire debut 51/29.4 nicks him off, Singh Dale is pumped! Looks for a repeat dose, stepping across and looking to heave leg-side. But this is a much better length, outside off stump, and takes the outside edge. Bairstow pouches it, and Livingstone is out of here! 76/419.1 picks out long-on! Green doesn't opt for the yorker, spearing this in on a good length, and Bethell looks to swing hard into the gap between long-on and midwicket. But he goes a little too straight, and Kellaway is in the action yet again, taking a straightforward chance just off the rope 130/811.5 drops short, Kimber looks to swing him into Worcestershire but can only pick out deep midwicket! Offbreak speared in from around the wicket. Kimber was very deep in the crease looking to get underneath it, but couldn't get the distance on it. Simple enough catch for Green, and the Fire are burning hot 85/518.1 full outside off, Howell shuffles across to scoop... and Payne scoops it up just before it hits the turf! Brilliant work at deep fine leg. Howell gets a decent piece of it, but Payne races across to his right, dives at full stretch, and makes sure that he holds onto it as his body hits the hard outfield. Top work in the deep from the big fast bowler! 124/618.3 short ball, Milne pulls it straight back and Meredith can only parry it into the off side off his own bowling, one-handed. Kellaway is the quickest to reach as Milne tries to pinch a single, and dives a full-stretch, Jonty Rhodes-style, to remove the bails at the bowler's end 124/719.5 you miss, I hit. Green finishes with three wickets, going fast, full and flat. Boult has a big heave and is knocked over 138/9Extras6 (nb 2, w 4)TOTAL138/9 (20 Overs, RR: 6.9 per 6 ball)Did not bat: CP WoodFall 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)
Bowling O M R W Econ 0s 4s 6s WD NB DA Payne 4 0 31 0 7.75 8 3 2 0 0 RP Meredith 4 0 25 2 6.25 8 3 0 3 0 AS Dale 2 0 26 1 13 2 4 1 0 0 SA Zaib 3 0 19 0 6.33 7 0 2 1 0 BI Kellaway 3 0 10 2 3.33 8 0 0 0 1 CJ Green 4 0 27 3 6.75 6 1 2 0 0
Player of the Match
Player of the Match
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR9.1 very good from Howell! Full and floaty, Eskinazi steps outside leg and looks to force him back over his head but Howell holds onto a stinger off his own bowling, up above his left shoulder. Phoenix get the breakthrough they desperately needed 72/116.2 cleaned up! Nails a perfect inswinging yorker which sneaks underneath the bat and cannons into the base of the stumps. Great comeback from Milne. Bairstow nods in appreciation on his way off 122/2Extras10 (b 5, lb 5)TOTAL140/2 (17.4 Overs, RR: 7.86 per 6 ball)Fall of wickets: 1-72 (Stephen Eskinazi, 9.1 ov), 2-122 (Jonny Bairstow, 16.2 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ 0s 4s 6s WD NB TA Boult 3 0 28 0 9.33 5 4 1 0 0 AF Milne 3 0 32 1 10.66 4 2 3 0 0 CP Wood 2 0 13 0 6.5 3 2 0 0 0 BAC Howell 4 0 17 1 4.25 7 1 0 0 0 LS Livingstone 3 0 22 0 7.33 3 3 0 0 0 TG Southee 2.4 0 18 0 6.42 3 2 0 0 0
Match Details
Toss
Welsh Fire (Men) , elected to field first
Player Of The Match
Season
Hours of play (local time)
18.30 start, First Session 18.30-19.35, Interval 19.35-19.50, Second Session 19.50-20.55
Match days
22 August 2025 - day/night match (20-over match)
Umpires
TV Umpires
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Points
Welsh Fire (Men) 4, Birmingham Phoenix (Men) 0
Balls per over
5
Match Notes
- Powerplay 1: Balls 1 - 25 (Mandatory - 42 runs, 1 wicket)
- Birmingham Phoenix (Men): 50 runs in 29 balls, Extras 1
- Strategic Timeout: Birmingham Phoenix (Men) - 92/5 in 70 balls (JG Bethell 11, BAC Howell 3)
- Balls 75: Review by Welsh Fire (Men) (Bowling), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - DJ Millns, Batter - JG Bethell (Struck down)
- Birmingham Phoenix (Men): 100 runs in 77 balls, Extras 4
- Innings Break: Birmingham Phoenix (Men) - 138/9 in 100 balls (TG Southee 1)
- Powerplay 1: Balls 1 - 25 (Mandatory - 41 runs, 0 wicket)
- Welsh Fire (Men): 50 runs in 31 balls, Extras 1
- 1st Wicket: 50 runs in 31 balls (SS Eskinazi 32, SPD Smith 17, Ex 1)
- Strategic Timeout: Welsh Fire (Men) - 62/0 in 40 balls (SS Eskinazi 37, SPD Smith 24)
- Welsh Fire (Men): 100 runs in 67 balls, Extras 9
- Total attendance: 14,058
- 2nd Wicket: 50 runs in 35 balls (SPD Smith 10, JM Bairstow 35, Ex 5)
Match Coverage
All Match NewsSteven Smith anchors Fire chase in major blow to Phoenix play-off hopes
Ben Kellaway shines with the ball and in the field on Hundred debut as Phoenix stumble