Joe Root made an unbeaten 58 to lead Welsh Fire to a seven-wicket win over Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred at Edgbaston. The victory lifts Fire from fifth to second in the table on net run-rate, while Phoenix remain eighth after a third consecutive defeat.

Phoenix posted 137-9 after collapsing from 53-1 to 79-5 despite Joe Clarke’s 35, with Lockie Ferguson and Marco Jansen taking two wickets each. Fire reached 138-3 with four balls remaining: Phil Salt contributed 46 in an opening stand of 77 with Root, who sealed the result after returning to action following his reappointment as England Test captain.