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Birmingham Phoenix bagged the two points on offer with a win against London Spirit in match five of The Hundred Men’s 2024 season. The outcome, as transpired on July 27 at Lord’s, helped Phoenix register their opening points of the competition after their opening debacle against defending champions Oval Invincibles last week.
Regardless, Welsh Fire continues to top The Hundred Men’s 2024 points table with a formidable NRR of 3.332. Trent Rockets, Oval Invincibles, and Southern Brave occupy the next three slots on the eight-team standings with a win each to their credit on first attempts.
Birmingham Phoenix climbed to number five on the table with a win and a defeat each to its name. London Spirit crashed to their second successive defeat to struggle at number six on the list. Winless Northern Superchargers and Manchester Original languish at the bottom of the table with a dismal NRR of -2.350 and -3.332 respectively.
Sean Abbott and Benny Howell fuel thrilling Phoenix win
Batting first, London Spirit lost opener Daniel Bell-Drummond to a straight trap laid out by Birmingham Phoenix fast bowler Tim Southee early in the innings. Sean Abbott (4/14) also struck four times in a space of just eight deliveries as London Spirit crashed to 30/5 in 28 balls.
Liam Dawson led Spirit’s recovery by cautiously carving 36 runs from 34 balls. Following Abbott’s four-wicket burst, Dawson’s rescue act took London Spirit past the 100-run mark. At number eight, Andre Russell muscled four sixes and a boundary in his 20-ball 37* as London Spirit conjured a competitive 127/7 from their share of 100 balls.
Chasing 128, Birmingham Phoenix lost each of their top three batters to Olly Stone, Daniel Worrall, and to a runout to slip to 16/3 at one stage. Moeen Ali also followed suit for a three-ball duck to Worrall as Birmingham’s struggles worsened at 20/4. Thereafter, Dan Mousley (39 off 38 balls) and Jacob Bethell (43 off 27 balls) steadied Birmingham Phoenix's response with a 69-run partnership.
Benny Howell (24* off 12 balls) at number seven also launched a couple of boundaries and a six to take Birmingham Phoenix past the finishing line in the penultimate ball of the match.
