James Vince smashes half-century before Chris Jordan sees Southern Brave home as they beat Birmingham Phoenix by four wickets at the Ageas Bowl despite Liam Livingstone’s unbeaten fifty for the visitors
- Liam Livingstone continued his fine form with an unbeaten 68 for the visitors
- Miles Hammond supported him as Birmingham Phoenix posted 151 for three
- Southern Brave lost Quinton de Kock early prior to James Vince’s excellent 60
- Devon Conway chipped in with 34 before Chris Jordan saw the hosts home
A thrilling finish at the Ageas Bowl saw Southern Brave rack up their first win in The Hundred, beating Birmingham Phoenix by four wickets with just three balls to spare.
Brave’s captain James Vince had led from the front with a 38-ball 60, but his dismissal by Moeen Ali off the 58th ball, top-edging a sweep to short fine leg, sparked a collapse from the home side as they sunk from 82 for two to 126 for five in the race to get over the line.
With Brave needing 18 from the final 10, Adam Milne (three for 15) had Ross Whiteley caught at long-on, but Benny Howell put down a crucial catch at deep midwicket, allowing Chris Jordan (17no) to sprint a single off Tom Helm’s final wide and overhaul the 152-run target.
James Vince hit a half-century as Southern Brave chased down 151 to beat Birmingham Phoenix
Chris Jordan then hit a vital 17 not out at the end to see the hosts home in their Hundred match
Liam Livingstone smashed an unbeaten half-century for the visitors as they set 152 to win
He was well supported by Miles Hammond, who scored 44 not out at the Ageas Bowl
Earlier, Liam Livingstone had finally brought his England T20 form to The Hundred with a ferocious 68 from 44 balls for Phoenix, sharing an unbeaten 104-run partnership with Miles Hammond (44no).
But it was Brave’s early squeezing of Phoenix which proved critical, the home side confining them to 27 for one in the first 25 balls – the least productive powerplay in the competition so far for the Birmingham-based side.
Vince’s decision to hand a 10-ball spell to left-arm wrist-spinner Jake Lintott (two for 13) was subsequently handsomely repaid, as Finn Allen danced down the wicket and was stumped off the 34th, before captain Moeen fell three balls later for a duck – bowled attempting the sweep.
But it was a failure with the bat for captain Moeen Ali, who made a three-ball duck
Jake Lintott was among the wickets but could not prevent Birmingham from making 150
South Africa captain Quinton de Kock was dismissed cheaply for the hosts in their reply
Between times, a wayward five from Colin De Grandhomme had cost Brave 18 runs, as well as the wicket of Livingstone, who skied to mid-off on 12 but was reprieved by an overstep from the bowler.
Phoenix benefited from the error to the tune of 56 runs as Livingstone rode his luck, wildly swinging at almost every ball, a tactic which yielded four sixes.
In reply, Brave’s run chase stalled early after they lost Quinton De Kock to the 18th ball, the South African caught and bowled by Milne after steepling the ball high into the air.
By the time Milne struck again, beating Devon Conway for pace to have him bowled off the 81st, Vince had been and gone. But it was the skipper’s third half-century in four matches at the Ageas which proved crucial in his side putting their first points of the competition on the board.
Compatriot Imran Tahir was among the wickets but could not see Birmingham over the line
New Zealand star Devon Conway also made an impressive 34 during Southern Brave’s chase
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