Welsh Fire concluded their Hundred campaign on a high with a 15-run win over London Spirit in Cardiff, finishing fifth after ending last year at the bottom. Sent in to bat, Fire reached 49 for 1 in the powerplay behind Georgia Voll and Freya Kemp. Momentum stalled after Kemp’s 26 off 14 and Sarah Bryce’s dismissal left them at 74 for 3 at the halfway point. Georgia Wareham then took charge, smashing a 34-ball half-century, including 22 from her final eight balls, to lift Fire to 138 for 7.
Spirit’s chase faltered early as Grace Potts dismissed Grace Harris and Marie Kelly with her opening two balls, later returning to remove Amy Jones and finish with 3 for 23. Charis Pavely’s three successive fours and Charlie Dean’s 27 offered resistance, but wickets fell as the required rate climbed. Deandra Dottin briefly raised hopes with a six off Wareham, but Spirit were bowled out for 123 with one ball remaining, securing fifth place for Fire.
Ellyse Perry’s unbeaten 62 helped Birmingham Phoenix end their campaign with a five-wicket win over MI London, chasing down 121 with six balls to spare. Phoenix slipped to 48 for 4 after Kirstie Gordon struck twice in the powerplay, but Perry found an ideal partner in Pakistan captain Fatima Sana, who made 36 off 32. The pair added 66 for the fifth wicket before Sana fell with seven runs still needed, leaving Perry to finish the chase.
MI London posted 120 for 6 after being sent in, with Hayley Matthews’ 21 providing an early burst before she fell to a fine catch from Davina Perrin off Sana. Hollie Armitage and Chinelle Henry rebuilt with a 56-run stand, Henry making 42 off 33, but Alana King and Eva Gray restricted the visitors at the death. Gray finished with 2 for 29 as MI London ended a disappointing campaign with their sixth defeat, while Phoenix moved up to seventh.
