Birmingham Phoenix put themselves again into the highest three of The Hundred with an necessary win at Edgbaston, knocking Trent Rockets out of this yr’s competitors within the course of.
Tim Southee claimed a five-wicket haul, to limit the Rockets to 118, earlier than Liam Livingstone and Jacob Bethell helped push Phoenix into the play-off locations with a measured chase.
Birmingham Phoenix received the toss and selected to bowl, in what turned out to be a terrific determination from Moeen Ali, as his tempo assault placed on an exhibition of swing bowling in the beginning of the primary innings.
The damaging quartet of Tom Banton, Alex Hales, Joe Root and Rovman Powell had been dismissed within the first 30 deliveries, because the Rockets fell to 22-4.
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Birmingham Phoenix declare the 2 large back-to-back wickets of Alex Hales and Joe Root
Tom Alsop – making his debut in The Hundred – and Pakistan worldwide Imad Wasim rebuilt for the guests with a fifty partnership, earlier than Wasim was retired out on a run-a-ball 29, to get replaced by Chris Inexperienced.
The Australian all-rounder returned for Rockets, changing the injured Rashid Khan, however he was to final simply 5 balls earlier than being eliminated by Adam Milne, who took a well-deserved wicket.
Alsop reached his half-century, and was then dismissed by the superb Southee, who completed with 5-12 and momentarily thought he had taken a hat-trick earlier than being denied by an overturned LBW determination.
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Watch Tom Alsop hit a half-century on his Trent Rockets debut
Trent Rockets set Phoenix 119 to win and Ben Duckett acquired the chase off to a flying begin with 30 from 16 earlier than Rockets got here firing again at them. Luke Wooden dismissed Duckett and Jamie Smith in consecutive balls to place the breaks on Birmingham’s quick begin.
Moeen Ali and Livingstone steadied the ship for some time earlier than the pacy John Turner (2-17) eliminated captain Moeen and Dan Mousley.
The away staff sensed it was their likelihood to construct the stress with the ball within the chase they usually started to limit Phoenix’s scoring alternatives, earlier than Luke Wooden launched the stress with a no-ball free hit that Bethell deposited into the stands to offer the house facet some respiratory room.
Bethell (38 off 29) and Livingstone (30 off 32) then took Phoenix dwelling with a half-century partnership, as they chased it with seven balls to spare.
With one recreation left every, the outcome leaves three groups with an opportunity of becoming a member of Oval Invincibles within the knockout rounds – Phoenix, Southern Courageous and Northern Superchargers. Defeat for Trent Rockets signifies that like London Spirit, Manchester Originals and Welsh Fireplace, their match is over.
Participant of the match- Tim Southee
“It was a pretty good performance. I think the bowlers assessed the conditions well and then the way the batters went about it towards the end, Bethell and Livingstone knocked it around and chose great options. So, I think it was a pretty good all-round performance.
“I believe we have now had actually good consistency over the previous few video games and have gotten to know one another a bit higher. Clearly, Adam Milne and I’ve performed lots of cricket collectively, however for everybody else it is nice to have that have of enjoying just a few video games collectively.
“We adapted to conditions as quickly as possible, which helped us and the surface offered us a little bit which we tried to get as much out of as we could.”
What’s subsequent?
The Hundred continues on Tuesday August 13 with one other double-header between Northern Superchargers and London Spirit.
You may watch the ladies’s match on Sky Sports activities Predominant Occasion and Sky Sports activities Cricket from 2.30pm, first ball at 3pm, and the lads’s match on Sky Sports activities Cricket from 6pm.
Sky Sports activities+ has formally launched and can be built-in into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities prospects entry to over 50 per cent extra dwell sport this yr at no additional price. Discover out extra right here.
