All-round effort keeps Welsh Fire alive in playoffs race

Welsh Fire secured a comprehensive win over Birmingham Phoenix, keeping them in the race for the playoffs in the Men's Hundred 2025. The win puts both teams on eight points, with each having two games left to play.

The road to the knockouts remains challenging for both sides, requiring them to win both their remaining games and hoping for Northern Superchargers to drop all available points. Southern Brave and Manchester Originals are also in the mix.

Welsh Fire's win was driven by a rounded bowling effort and strong batting from the top-three. After being asked to bat, Birmingham Phoenix struggled, with Ben Duckett falling early to Riley Meredith. The second-wicket pair of Will Smeed and Joe Clarke made progress, but Ben Kellaway's wicket of Clarke halted their momentum. Benny Howell and Jacob Bethell then put up a defiant stand, but Meredith ended it, leaving Phoenix to finish with 138 for 9.

Welsh Fire's chase was set up by an opening stand of 41 between Steve Smith and Stephen Eskinazi. They stitched a partnership of 72, before Howell dismissed Eskinazi. At the halfway stage, Fire needed just 65 to win from 50 deliveries. Smith and Jonny Bairstow then took charge, with Bairstow scoring 35 off 21 to hasten the end. Smith scored 11 of the remaining 17 runs, and captain Tom Abell sealed the win with a boundary.

Brief Scores:
Birmingham Phoenix 138/9 (Jacob Bethell 38, Joe Clarke 24; Chris Green 3-27, Ben Kellaway 2-10, Riley Meredith 2-25) lost to Welsh Fire 140/2 (Steven Smith 47*, Stephen Eskinazi 42, Jonny Bairstow 35) by 8 wickets