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That's a wrap! Thanks for tuning in, this is Dwaipayan Mukherjee. A big shoutout to my talented co-commentator Darpan Tikiya! Lots of action around, we will see you soon!
Lockie Ferguson(Player of the Match) says, "Boys bowled excellently tonight and gave the batters very little. The short boundary on the leg side is intimidating for the batters. The boys took pace-off, bowled the yorker very well. We are off to a good start. But a long way to go. One day to go for out match against Superchargers. They are a strong side. Let's see how we go."
9:00 PM local time, 1:30 AM IST: 4 wins out of 4 matches for the chasing team in the Men's Competition of The Hundred 2025!
Trent Rockets (123 for 4) defeat Birmingham Phoenix (122 for 6) by 6 wickets
Tom Banton - 43 (29) | Benny Howell - 2/25 Rehan Ahmed - 25 (16) | Tim Southee - 2/36
The Kiwi pace trio of Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Adam Milne were always going to be crucial in this chase for Phoenix to sabotage the top order of Rockets. It was this trio that operated for the first 40 balls of the chase.
Tim Southee, bowling coach for England in the recently concluded Test series against India, began beautifully with out-swingers and then one of the deliveries held on to the pitch which presented a half chance for a caught and bowled. The experienced former Kiwi captain did not have to wait long as Root attempted an ugly hoick that only resulted with his wooden work disturbed behind him.
Tom Banton went on a flicking spree as he struck 3 sixes into the leg side with the Kiwis erring constantly with their lines which ensured that the required rate got down to run a ball with as many as 68 balls remaining. 100% of his first 30 runs have come in one direction of the ground. Rehan Ahmed, in at 3, unleashed his wide array of shots.
The win predictor favoured the Rockets with a 92% chance at one point and dropped chances did not help as Boult provided a reprieve in the fine leg boundary. In hindsight, the Phoenix would look back at the initial stage of the innings where they could probably mix things up a bit more, instead of only operating with the Kiwi pacers, to provide the Rockets batters a stiffer challenge with the other variety available to them.
Only 4 bowlers used in the first 65 balls and by the time spin was introduced for the first time in the chase - the equation read 23 runs needed from 35 balls with 7 wickets in hand. In the end, it was a cake walk for Rockets to register a win in their opening encounter of the season. The pitch certainly looked as if it played better as the match progressed but a lot of credit must go to the Rockets who showed up with their A game across all departments tonight. Phoenix will believe they can only improve from here.
15.3 Adam Milne to Adam Hose, FOUR TO FINISH! Trent Rockets win with 22 balls to spare. Back of a length ball, down the leg side. Hose went for the pull, did not catch it in the meat of the bat, rather got a glove on it. But that was good enough to send the ball racing to the fine leg boundary.
15.2 Adam Milne to Adam Hose, fuller, angling into the middle and leg. Punched to mid-on.
15.1 Adam Milne to Adam Hose, HIGH QUALITY SHOT! Good length ball hurled in from over the wicket. Too predictable? Perhaps. The batter shimmied down before unfurling a delectable lofted inside out shot to send it to the long-off boundary.
It only looks like a matter of time for this match to reach its conclusion. Milne returns to the bowling crease.
15.0
14.5 Tim Southee to Max Holden, around the wicket, drops it short, angling into the body at 79mph. Holden pulls it towards deep backward square leg for a single.
14.4 Tim Southee to Adam Hose, good length, outside off. Jabbed to deep backward point using an open face.
14.3 Tim Southee to Adam Hose, good length, down the leg side. Clipped very fine. Can't evade the keeper.
Adam Hose batting at 6th position
Marcus Stoinis has been dismissed for 7 runs off 5 balls
14.2 Tim Southee to Marcus Stoinis, CAUGHT! Mousley gives the home crowd something to cheer about. It is a good catch — his third of the night too. Back of a length ball that surprised Stoinis, who went for the pull shot and got more of a top edge. The aforementioned fielder was stationed at deep square leg and had to run a long way to his left to get to it. He even went down and slid after taking the catch, but never lost control.
14.1 Tim Southee to Marcus Stoinis, SWATTED AWAY! SIX! Half-tracker outside off, delivered from over the wicket Stoinis stood firm and deposited it over midwicket.
Southee is back into the attack.
16 runs needed from 30 balls and 7 wickets in hand - you would like to believe that only the formalities remain.
14.0
13.5 Dan Mousley to Max Holden, HAMMERED FOR FOUR! Mousley speared a full and wide one at 71mph. Holden used the pace, cracking it to the boundary in front of point. The man on the boundary could not stop it despite a big dive.
13.4 Dan Mousley to Max Holden, quicker, flatter, at the middle and leg. Defensive push towards cover.
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