Ellyse Perry's Unbeaten 68 Guides Birmingham Phoenix to First Victory of The Hundred Season

Ellyse Perry produced a captain's knock with an unbeaten 68 to lead Birmingham Phoenix to a thrilling seven-wicket victory over Welsh Fire at Edgbaston, securing the team's first win of The Hundred 2026 campaign.

Chasing 145 for victory, Perry remained calm under pressure, finishing with 68 not out off 46 deliveries and sharing a crucial 86-run partnership for the third wicket with Alice Capsey, who struck a rapid 51 from just 29 balls. The experienced Australian sealed the contest in style by smashing Heather Graham for 10 runs in the final two deliveries she faced, taking Phoenix home with one ball to spare.

The victory lifted Birmingham Phoenix off the bottom of the standings and ended their wait for a first win of the season.

Earlier, Welsh Fire posted a competitive 144 for 3, built around an impressive innings from Georgia Voll. After a cautious start alongside Ella McCaughan, Voll shifted gears to dominate the bowling attack, bringing up her half-century with a six off Eva Gray. She eventually scored 78 from 55 balls, hitting nine fours and two sixes before falling to Linsey Smith, with Alice Capsey taking the catch at long-on.

Sophie Devine provided a powerful finish to the innings, remaining unbeaten on 35 from just 18 balls. The New Zealand all-rounder struck two sixes in the closing deliveries to lift Welsh Fire to a challenging total.

Birmingham Phoenix's chase began on a shaky note as Davina Perrin departed in the fourth ball of the innings. Tammy Beaumont and Capsey steadied the innings with a useful stand before Beaumont was dismissed by Georgia Wareham.

Captain Perry then joined Capsey at the crease and transformed the chase. The pair added 86 runs, reaching their fifty-run partnership in just 30 balls and putting the hosts firmly in control.

Phoenix were briefly tested when Capsey fell with 24 runs still required, raising hopes of a Welsh Fire comeback. However, Annerie Dercksen supported Perry during the tense closing stages before the veteran all-rounder struck the decisive boundaries to complete Birmingham's highest successful chase in the competition and end a long wait for victory.

Speaking after being named the Meerkat Match Hero, Perry expressed her delight at the team's breakthrough success.

"It is lovely to have the win at home and the atmosphere here today was amazing. I thought we did well to restrict the Fire with the ball and then timed the chase nicely to get over the line," Perry said.

"The results haven't gone our way so far, but we've had a lot of fun as a group. Today was another great opportunity and a nice challenge. Partnerships are crucial, and the way Alice batted was outstanding. It was great to take the game deep and finish it in the final stages."

The defeat leaves Welsh Fire with work to do in the race for the knockout stages, while Birmingham Phoenix will hope the hard-fought victory marks a turning point in their campaign.