Fire miss chance to reach play-offs with loss to Phoenix

The Hundred women's competition, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff

Birmingham Phoenix 121-7 (100 balls): Kalis 55 (44); Matthews 3-32

Welsh Fire 112-8 (100 balls): Matthews 35 (38); Perry 2-9

Birmingham Phoenix won by 9 runs

Scorecard. Table

Welsh Fire missed a chance to seal their spot successful nan play-offs of The Hundred women's competition, arsenic Birmingham Phoenix edged a tense title astatine Sophia Gardens.

Fire were favourites, needing 16 from nan past 10 balls pinch Hayley Matthews astatine nan crease, but Katie Levick's 2 wickets successful 2 balls swung nan crippled successful Phoenix's favour and secured a nine-run win.

Georgia Elwiss fell for 10 and Matthews was caught for 35 earlier Emily Arlott took 2 much wickets successful a disastrous illness arsenic nan hosts mislaid 4 wickets for 4 runs.

Earlier, Phoenix's 121-7 was group up by Sterre Kalis' 55 while Matthews' 3-32 and Freya Davies' 2-17 led a disciplined Fire bowling performance.

Fire's pursuit ebbed and flowed, pinch Sophia Dunkley and Matthews starring nan betterment from Tammy Beaumont's early departure for 12 earlier all-rounder Ellyse Perry took 2 wickets successful 2 balls - Dunkley for 18 and Sarah Bryce first shot - to stall nan location side's progress.

Matthews and Jess Jonassen, pinch 28, past looked to beryllium sealing Fire's qualification earlier Phoenix's bowlers fought back, supported by awesome subject successful nan field.

A triumph astatine Cardiff would person guaranteed Fire a top-three decorativeness but struggling Phoenix kept their slim qualification hopes alive. They request to triumph their remaining 2 games comfortably to amended their nett run-rate and dream different results spell their way.

There are 2 much double-headers taking spot connected Sunday, pinch Oval Invincibles taking connected London Spirit (women's crippled astatine 11:00 BST and nan men's astatine 14:30) and Manchester Originals look Northern Superchargers (women's crippled astatine 14:30 BST and nan men's astatine 18:00).

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