Birmingham Phoenix beat Trent Rockets by 10 runs in a high-scoring Hundred men's contest at Edgbaston, with the home side posting 214-4 and the visitors finishing on 204-7. The match produced the first 400-run game in tournament history and set a new record for sixes in a Hundred match, with 29 hit across both innings.
How did Birmingham Phoenix build such a big total?
Phoenix's innings was powered by Joe Clarke and Will Smeed, who both made fifties as they shared an opening stand of 104 from just 49 balls. Clarke struck 68 from 33 balls, while Smeed made 51 from 28 before the innings was accelerated further by Rehan Ahmed and Donovan Ferreira.
Ahmed hit five of Phoenix's 17 sixes on his way to 48 from 25 balls, while Ferreira finished on 22 not out from only nine deliveries. Their third-wicket stand added 63 from 22 balls and ensured Phoenix's fast start was converted into the second-highest total in the history of the Hundred, behind Oval Invincibles' 226-4 last year.
Why was the chase so close?
Trent Rockets also made a strong start, with openers Finn Allen and Ben Duckett adding 65 in 29 balls. Their chase then lost momentum when Allen fell for 43 and Duckett for 49, but Tom Banton kept Rockets in contention with a 26-ball fifty.
Banton went on to make 67 from 32 balls, yet seamer Scott Currie held his nerve at the end to remove him when 29 were still needed from the last seven balls. Phoenix then closed out the win, while Rockets spinner Calvin Harrison's figures of 2-27 stood out on a difficult night for bowlers.
What did the result mean for the tournament?
Phoenix's 214-4 was the sixth time a team had passed 200 in the competition and brought some much-needed life to this year's edition after a run of relatively low scores, with the previous highest total having been 144. The result also eased concerns about the pitch after Phoenix's women were bowled out for 64 earlier in the day in contrasting conditions.
What happens on Saturday?
Saturday is the first day of the competition when four matches are scheduled. Sunrisers Leeds face Southern Brave in the first women's match at 11:00 BST, followed by the men's game at 14:30.
Welsh Fire and MI London also meet in the women's competition at 14:30, with the men playing at 18:00. Ball-by-ball commentary will be available on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, and the website and app.
Key Facts
- Birmingham Phoenix beat Trent Rockets by 10 runs at Edgbaston.
- Phoenix scored 214-4, the second-highest total in Hundred history.
- The match produced 400 runs in total and a Hundred-record 29 sixes.
- Joe Clarke made 68, Will Smeed 51, Rehan Ahmed 48 and Donovan Ferreira 22 not out.
- Tom Banton top-scored for Rockets with 67, while Calvin Harrison took 2-27.
