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Liam Livingstone is the Player of the Match! Here's what he has to say: "Very nice, we needed the win and that is a confidence booster, with that kind of a crowd we put on a show today. They were phenomenal, on a decent wicket, they didn't miss the yorker, full credit to them and managed to finish off with the bat. Especially losing one wicket early on, got the tempo right, we bought him in with the draft and he's been doing the job for us. A big win for us, we're up against some tough teams coming up, try and improve the run-rate and see where we are at the end."
8:18 PM local time, 12:48 AM IST | Birmingham Phoenix win by 7 wickets with 35 balls to spare.
Joe Clarke 54 (25) | Trent Boult 2/20 Kane Williamson 33 (29) | Luke Wood 1/17
Spirit have been crushed. They have been handed a thrashing. And suddenly, this Liam Livingstone led side — that lost three off their first four matches — are making heads turn. There wasn't a single moment in this match, where they seemed behind. It has been a domineering performance that not only earns them crucial points, but also gives them a sweet net run rate boost.
The Pheonix won the toss, elected to bowl and the visiting team's innings moved along like an old, broken-down car — stuttering at every mile of the way.
Like he has done many times throughout his career, Trent Boult set the tone. A full, swinging delivery got rid of Jamie Smith — who was the Player of the Match in London Spirit's last game — even before he could get a run.
Adam Milne impressed too. While he did not get a wicket to show for his efforts, his tidy bowling was instrumental in building pressure. Tim Southee was perhaps the only bowler who had an off day today. He got carted for 17 runs off his five legal balls. But skipper Liam Livingstone realised early that it wasn't the seamer's day and hence, did not give him another set. He rather took responsibility and delivered an impressive spell of spin bowling through the middle.
For the visitors, three batters — Kane Williamson, Ollie Pope and Ashton Turner — scored more than 20 — albeit in sketchy fashion. However, none of them went on to make it big. They lost wickets at regular intervals throughout the innings and hence, ended with a mediocre looking score of 126/6.
While, the home team were considered favourites at the halfway stage, not many were expecting them to get there with 7 complete sets remaining — especially after they lost Will Smeed to a Luke Wood corker two balls into the innings.
But then, Joe Clarke took over and he seemed to be in a hurry. While, it won't be wrong to say that he threw his bat around, his shot-making did not feel wild. It rather appeared purposeful and very brutal. He scored at a handsome looking strike rate of 216, only to be overshadowed later by Livingstone's blitzkrieg. The Phoenix skipper was batting on 8* off 10 balls at one stage and yet ended with a 20-ball-45*. His ball-striking was imperious and enthralling to watch. Jacob Bethell too hit a couple of clean sixes and might have entertained the crowd with more, but alas, the target was only 127.
13.0
12.5 Richard Gleeson to Liam Livingstone, SIX! GAME, SET AND MATCH! Outstanding striking this from Livingstone, takes his team over the line with plenty of deliveries to spare. Phoenix hand a proper thumping to London Spirit. Slower one, back of a length on off-stump, Livingstone gets hold of another one as he dispatches it way over deep square-leg for a six to seal the deal.
12.4 Richard Gleeson to Liam Livingstone, SIX! BANG! Another huge hit from Livingstone. Short into the batter, was up for it, deposits this one way over deep backward square-leg for another maximum. This has been some exhibition of power hitting from this duo.
12.3 Richard Gleeson to Liam Livingstone, OH! Terrific stop at deep square-leg. Back of a length on off-stump, Livingstone swipes it across the line. Fielder dives around, stretches and pushes it away for a couple.
Only 10 more runs needed now.
12.2 Richard Gleeson to Liam Livingstone, SIX! Comfortably clears the ropes again. Length delivery on the stumps, Livingstone goes downtown, slammed it straight down the ground for yet another maximum.
12.1 Richard Gleeson to Liam Livingstone, OH! Nails the yorker, right up in the blockhole. Livingstone jams his bat to it and digs it out. A rare dot ball.
Richard Gleeson to bowl.
Worrall made an excellent stop at the long-off boundary. However, that set entertained the crowd to the fullest. The decibels levels at Edgbaston are currently higher than they have been throughout the evening.
12.0
11.5 Olly Stone to Liam Livingstone, OH! Worrall does an exceptional job of stopping that one. Length delivery outside the off-stump, Livingstone belted it down to long-off and Worrall with a dive, saves a certain boundary.
11.4 Olly Stone to Liam Livingstone, SIX MORE! Livingstone wants to finish this in a hurry. Back of a length on off-stump, was a slower one and Livingstone with a clean strike, swings across the line and clobbered it over deep mid-wicket.
11.3 Olly Stone to Liam Livingstone, bangs in the short delivery outside the off-stump, quick from Stone. Livingstone sways away from it, through to the keeper.
And the ball is lost. Out comes the fourth umpire with the bag of spare ones.
The end is near, folks!
11.2 Olly Stone to Liam Livingstone, SIX! BOOM! That is outta here, monstrous hit from Livingstone. Short into the batter, gets into position and dispatched it over deep square-leg for another maximum. Phoenix are doing it in a canter now.
How could Livingstone be left behind? He joins the "slam-bang" movement.
11.1 Olly Stone to Liam Livingstone, FOUR! SHOT! That went like a tracer bullet. Full on off-stump, Livingstone gets inside the line and absolutely smoked it past mid-on, races away to the ropes.
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