In a thrilling The Hundred contest, Birmingham Phoenix edged out Trent Rockets by a slender margin of six runs. Batting first, Phoenix posted 138 runs in 100 balls, thanks to Jacob Bethell’s unbeaten 29-ball 46-run knock. In response, the Rockets faced a massive collapse at the tail end of the match and could only muster 132 runs in 100 balls.
Match Summary
- Toss: Lewis Gregory (TR) won the toss and opted to bowl.
- Birmingham Phoenix Innings: 138/6 in 100 balls
- Jacob Bethell: 46*(29)
- Liam Livingstone: 30 (20)
- Key Bowler: Rashid Khan (2/23) in 20 balls
- Trent Rockets Innings: 132/8 in 100 balls
- Alex Hales: 38 (30)
- Joe Root: 33 (29)
- Key Bowler: Dan Mousley (3/9) in 15 balls
Key Moments
Imad Wasim Provides an Early Breakthrough
The Pakistani player operated with the new ball for the Rockets and struck on his second ball of the match. Imad trapped Aneurin Donald for just 7 runs and provided an early breakthrough for his side.
Jacob Bethell’s Impactful Knock
The 20-year-old batter entered the fray at number six and delivered an impactful knock for his side. Bethell scored an unbeaten 46 runs off 29 balls, including three fours and a couple of sixes. His valuable knock propelled Phoenix’s score to 138 runs in 100 balls. 
Adam Milne Draws the First Blood
The Kiwi pacer operated with the new ball for Phoenix and provided an early breakthrough for his side. Milne trapped Tom Banton for seven runs off ten balls on the 13th ball of the innings, drawing first blood for Phoenix. The right-arm pacer finished his spell with the figures of 2/20 in 20 balls. He will look to continue this form in The Hundred event.
Hales & Root’s Partnership
With Tom Banton departing cheaply, Alex Hales and Joe Root started building the partnership in the middle for the Rockets. Root (33 off 19) donned the aggressor’s role, while Hales (38 off 30) displayed composure. The pair added 60+ runs for the second wicket, laying a solid foundation for the later batters.
Rockets Fall like Nine Pins
The Rockets were 125/3 in 87 balls and looked comfortable during the chase, but all of a sudden, they started falling like a pack of cards. They lost five wickets for just seven runs, ultimately paying the price by losing the game from a strong position.
Dan Mousley’s Impressive Bowling
The right-arm spinner wreaked havoc with the ball and turned the game on its head for Phoenix. With the Rockets needing 10 runs off the last 10 balls, Mousley was handed the responsibility to bowl the final two sets on the trot. The 23-year-old pulled a rabbit out of a hat, snatching victory from the Rockets as he conceded just three runs and grabbed three wickets in the last ten deliveries of the match. His scintillating performance earned him the Hero of the Match award in The Hundred.
Implications and Future Prospects
Trent Rockets lost the contest from a strong position as their middle and lower-order batters faltered miserably, leading to their downfall at the tail end of the match. Tom Banton, Sam Hain, and Lewis Gregory need to step up with the bat for their team’s cause.
Conversely, Birmingham Phoenix peaked at the crucial juncture of the game and snatched victory from the Rockets. They will aim to continue their impressive performance with the ball, but their middle-order batting needs improvement.
Conclusion
Dan Mousley’s stellar bowling performance turned the tide of the game, helping Phoenix win two games on the trot in. They will look to carry this momentum as The Hundred progresses.
Conversely, the Rockets faced their first defeat in The Hundred and should take lessons from this match to aim for a return to winning ways.
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