Moeen Ali's game-changing flourish leads Birmingham Phoenix to third win in a row
Liam Livingstone adds unbeaten fifty to seal victory after Benny Howell runs through Rockets
Liam Livingstone adds unbeaten fifty to seal victory after Benny Howell runs through Rockets
Scorer: @Thilak_Rama | Commentator: Andrew Miller
9.19pm Right, that's a wrap. Phoenix draw level with the vanquished Rockets on six points, two adrift of the high-flying London Spirit. From Miller, Gardner and Thilak, good night! Let's do this all again tomorrow.
Liam Livingstone: "We knew it would be hard to defend a total but shows the value of taking wickets up front, nice to get over the line. We've both got confidence in our hitting ability, so we backed ourselves to play strong shots. That Lewis Gregory over was the turning point. In a pressure situation it's a big thing for Mo to stand there and say I'll take it on. I found seam tough to hit, Mo found it easy to hit. I missed two or three in my wheelhouse, nice to spend some time at the crease, nice to get my rhythm back. But we won the game in the first 20-25 balls, getting Hales and Mala."
Moeen Ali, the Cazoo Match Hero: "It felt horrible and ugly, but entertaining from myself. The match was set up by the bowlers, for sure. The wicket felt like timing was difficult, so we decided to slog a few and see how we'd go. They got a score but we've got some good players, a small boundary on one side. We're doing the basics quite well. Nice to win, unbeaten at home so not an easy place to come and play."
9.08pm So, victory with oodles to spare. Two mighty fifties from the Phoenix kingpins, Moeen and Livingstone. Kudos to Daniel Sams, a star for Rockets with bat and ball, and to Luke Wood, who was exceptional with the ball to give his side hope. But after collapsing to Benny Howell's allsorts, not even a spirited 92-run stand from Sams and Gregory could rescue their hopes.
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Liam Livingstone adds unbeaten fifty to seal victory after Benny Howell runs through Rockets