Birmingham Phoenix off the mark thanks to Ellyse Perry heroics

Birmingham Phoenix earned their first victory of the season in thrilling fashion, defeating Welsh Fire by 7 wickets with just one ball to spare at Edgbaston. Perry's Heroics: Captain Ellyse Perry anchored the successful chase, finishing unbeaten on 68 off 46 balls*. With 10 runs required off the final two deliveries, Perry hit a six and a four off Heather Graham to seal the win. Match-Defining Partnership: Perry combined with Alice Capsey (51 off 29) for a explosive 86-run 3rd-wicket stand from just 50 balls to turn the game in Phoenix's favor. Voll's Foundation: Earlier, Georgia Voll scored a top-class 78 off 55 balls for Welsh Fire, before Sophie Devine added a late flourish (35* off 18) to set a target of 145. Earlier in the piece, a powerful knock of 78 from 55 balls by Georgia Voll was the mainstay of the Fire innings and set Birmingham Phoenix a target of 145. After a slow start in the powerplay that saw her and Ella McCaughan take the score to a run-a-ball 25 for 0, Voll put her foot down. She first stepped things up against the spin of Alana King and Linsey Smith, before she brought up her half-century with a maximum off Eva Gray. Voll hit nine fours and two sixes in all, falling caught at long-on by Capsey off Smith from the 91st ball of the innings. Late Fire Surge: Sophie Devine ended the Welsh Fire innings with a flourish, hitting two sixes off the final six balls (against Linsey Smith and Alana King) to finish unbeaten on 35 off 18 balls, taking the total to 144/3. Early Stumble for Phoenix: Birmingham Phoenix—watched by part-owner Jude Bellingham—lost Davina Perrin to Freya Potts on the fourth ball of the chase. Tammy Beaumont and Alice Capsey took the score to 33/1 before Beaumont holed out off Georgia Wareham. Dominant Stand: Ellyse Perry joined Capsey, and the pair counter-attacked with an 86-run partnership, bringing up their 50-run stand in just 30 balls to put Phoenix in command of the chase. Nervy Finish to History: Capsey fell with 24 runs still needed, sparking late tension. However, Annerie Dercksen held firm before Perry struck two late boundaries to seal a record chase, handing Phoenix their first win in 14 attempts. Birmingham Phoenix 145 for 3 (Perry 68*, Capsey 51) beat Welsh Fire 144 for 3 (Voll 78) by seven wickets