Manchester Originals botched a routine run-chase at home, falling to a 16-run defeat against Birmingham Phoenix and slipping to the fourth spot. The result keeps Trent Rockets, who beat Welsh Fire earlier in the evening, alive in the playoffs race.

Chasing 112, the Originals collapsed to 15/4 inside the powerplay and never recovered. Their innings was further derailed by four run-outs before they were eventually bowled out for 99 off the final ball. Seren Smale top-scored with 29 off 34 but found no support as the top-four batters managed only single-digit scores. Megan Schutt starred with the ball for Phoenix, taking three wickets including that of Beth Mooney at the top.

Earlier, Phoenix were themselves jolted early, losing both openers inside the powerplay. From 15/2, they slipped further to 17/3 when Deandra Dottin removed Amy Jones. But Sterre Kalis (43 off 39) and Ellyse Perry (55* off 48) turned the innings around with an unbroken 94-run partnership, lifting Phoenix to 111/3.

Perry struck five fours and two sixes en route to her half-century while Kalis added four fours and a six, with both batters enjoying a reprieve along the way. Mahika Gaur impressed with the new ball, bowling three tidy sets for figures of 1 for 5.

Brief Scores: Birmingham Phoenix 111/3 (Perry 55*, Kalis 43*) beat Manchester Originals 95 all out (Smale 29; Schutt 3-14) by 16 runs