The Hundred: Moeen Ali stars as Birmingham Phoenix inflict first defeat on Trent Rockets
Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone both hit half-centuries as the Birmingham Phoenix won at home against the Trent Rockets; both teams now have three wins and one defeat after their opening four games of The Hundred
Tuesday 16 August 2022 13:56, UK
Moeen Ali blasted 52 runs from just 28 balls, including eight boundaries and five sixes, to propel the Birmingham Phoenix to victory over the Trent Rockets.
Liam Livingstone also finished with a half-century and sealed a seven-wicket victory for Birmingham with 14 balls to spare.
The Rockets fell to defeat at Edgbaston after winning their opening three games of The Hundred with Luke Wood taking all three wickets for them after Daniel Sams' 55 not out and Lewis Gregory's 35 not out helped them set a target of 145 for the hosts.
- Scorecard as Birmingham Phoenix (149-3) beat Trent Rockets (145-6) by seven wickets
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Phoenix captain Moeen took the vital wicket of Alex Hales in the first over for the hosts, dismissing him with his second delivery, and Benny Howell took a further three wickets for the Phoenix.
With conditions changing slightly as the evening got darker, Phoenix didn't start their innings too well with Will Smeed and Miles Hammond managing only 20 runs between them but Moeen's aggression with the bat made the difference for Birmingham.
Story of the game
The Phoenix's home ground remains a fortress - they have yet to lose a game there - after a vibrant bowling and fielding display set up their third successive win in this year's competition.
They had the Rockets reeling at 53 for six before a bold unbroken stand of 92 in 46 balls from Daniel Sams (55, 25 balls) and Luke Gregory (35, 22) took the visitors to 145 for six. Benny Howell continued his fine form in the tournament with three for 28.
The 15,800 crowd then raised the Edgbaston roof as skipper Moeen Ali smashed 52 in 28 balls with five sixes to power his side towards victory with 14 balls to spare. Liam Livingstone's unbeaten 51 (32) saw his side home despite Luke Wood's impressive three for 16 from 20 balls.
Put in, the Rockets lost big-hitters Alex Hales, who lofted Moeen to deep mid-wicket, and Dawid Malan, caught at long off off Imran Tahir, in the first eight balls. The rest of the top order also misfired in the face of excellent fielding and deadly bowling from Howell.
Colin Munro fell to a superb return catch from Tom Helm while Howell dismissed Samit Patel, smartly taken at cover by Moeen, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, bowled through a slog, and Ian Cockbain, lbw.
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That left the Rockets in deep trouble at 53 for six from 54 balls but Sams and Gregory responded to the crisis with brio. Australia international Sams cracked five fours and three sixes, supported by the Rockets' skipper (two fours and two sixes) to keep their side competitive in the game.
They were even more competitive when Luke Wood bowled Will Smeed with the second ball of Phoenix's reply. Wood then trapped Miles Hammond (20, 16 balls) lbw but Moeen launched a fierce counter-attack. He took 23 off a Gregory over including two runs from a big slice of luck when he skied to extra cover but Malan lost the ball in the floodlights and it fell to earth a short distance from him.
Birmingham-born Moeen sped to a 26-ball fifty before Wood returned to hit his middle stump. Wood's discipline with the ball was not matched by his colleagues in the attack, however, and experienced pair Livingstone and Matt Wade, left to find 36 from 34 balls, made light of the task to keep the Phoenix fortress unbreached.
Livingstone ended the match in style, reaching his fifty with the winning runs – another towering six.
Hero of the match: Mooen Ali (52 runs from 28 balls, including 5 sixes)
"Winning was most important that this match was set up by the bowlers for sure. Obviously they bowled well, the wicket did feel like timing was quite difficult so we just decided we're going to swat a few and see where we go.
"We've got some good players, obviously we've been playing quite well so we knew if we just hang in there that the boundary is quite small on one side and you can just aim for one side.
"I think we're just doing the basics quite well. I feel but we're just trying to gather a bit of momentum now and it's always nice to win, especially at home. I think we're still unbeaten at home so this is something great and it's not an easy place for the opposition to come and play.
What's next?
Trent Rockets are back on home turf on Wednesday when they host Oval Invincibles (7pm) and then there's action at Edgbaston again on Friday as Birmingham Phoenix host the Northern Superchargers on Friday, (7pm).
Watch every match from The Hundred this summer live on Sky Sports.
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