Welsh Fire are back on the winning trail after a commanding performance against a misfiring Birmingham Phoenix outfit, whose familiar failings with the bat have put them all but out of contention for the latter stages.

Two days after being confirmed as England men's full-time Test skipper once again, Joe Root's effortlessly composed (58no) anchored the Fire's chase, taking his new franchise home with four balls still in hand.

He shared a telling opening stand with Phil Salt, who raced to 46 from 36 balls with four sixes before being trapped in front by Mitch Owen (1-9). Rachin Ravindra (7) then joined Root but he never got going on a crabby pitch, and it was no surprise when Chris Wood (1-21) induced a cross‑bat hoick as Ravindra looked in vain to push on.

Root's latest trick, the impish lofted scoop off a good length ball, settled matters to take the Fire joint top. The home side, playing in front of co‑owner and local hero Jude Bellingham, scrapped hard to stay in the contest, while a total of 137 was never likely to be enough with Root in this form.