Steve Smith has steered the Welsh Fire towards a crucial eight-wicket victory over the Birmingham Phoenix at Edgbaston to keep the team’s Hundred campaign alive.
Chasing a 140-run target for victory on Saturday morning AEST, the tourists got the job done with 11 balls to spare courtesy of an unbeaten 47 (36) from opener Smith.
The Australian combined with Stephen Eskinazi (42 from 29 balls) for a 72-run opening partnership before a 21-ball 35 from wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow put the Cardiff-based franchise within touching distance of the target.
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Smith, having bettered his previous tournament-best of 29, struck three boundaries and two sixes during his 36-ball knock.
“It was a good night,” Smith told Sky Sports.
“I was just playing second fiddle (to Eskinazi), then Jonny came out and did his thing.
“My job was just to take the game as deep as possible.”
Earlier, the Phoenix posted 9-138 after Ashes hopeful Jacob Bethell top-scored with a 28-ball 38 that featured three sixes. Australian spinner Chris Green continued his impressive form with 3-27 from 20 balls while compatriot Riley Meredith claimed 2-25, including the prized scalps of opener Ben Duckett.
Fire debutant Ben Kellaway, later named player of the match, was the pick of the bowlers with 2-10 from 15 balls, also contributing three catches and a run-out.
“I’m absolutely delighted,” Kellaway said.
“Making my debut in the first place was special enough, so to contribute for the team and get a win was really nice.”
The Fire were sitting bottom of the Hundred ladder before the Birmingham triumph, but the Welsh team still has a chance of qualifying for the finals.
“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,” Kellaway continued.
“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.”
Earlier during the women’s match, Australia’s Jess Jonassen produced an impressive all-round performance to help the Fire secure their first win of the tournament, having started the campaign with five straight defeats.
The Queenslander, later named player of the match, cracked a 17-ball 44 before taking three wickets during the run chase as the tourists sealed a 36-run victory over Birmingham.
“We’ve been searching for a win all season. It’s nice that things clicked today,” Jonassen said.
“We were probably just letting ourselves down a little with the bat more so than anything, and it’s really nice we got a win today.”
Jonassen, who lost her spot in the national side last year, also became the first woman to hit a quartet of sixes during a five-ball ‘over’ in the British competition, clearing the boundary rope four consecutive times against Phoenix leg-spinner Hannah Baker.
“Can’t say I’d be on the top of anyone’s list to achieve that,” Jonassen laughed.
“Not too bad to be fair. I got a little bit of luck with the bat, kind of muscled a few …
it doesn’t matter how far over the rope they go.”
The Fire posted 3-150 courtesy of a half-century from opener Sophie Dunkley (53 from 43 balls), with the Phoenix only managing 9-114 in response. Birmingham captain Ellyse Perry top-scored with a 43-ball 55, while South African quick Shabnim Ismail and Matthews each snared three wickets.
On Saturday evening, the Northern Superchargers will host the Oval Invincibles in Leeds, while the London Spirit will face the Southern Brave at Lord’s.