That is it from this game! Birmingham Phoenix have put on another fantastic show with the bat and have managed to chase down the highest total in The Hundred and go top of the table. Oval Invincibles have a lot to ponder upon especially about their fielding as that has cost them two games. The action in The Hundred continues on Thursday, 5th August. Manchester Originals take on Southern Brave. The Women's game begins at 1530 local (1430 GMT). Followed by the Men's game which begins at 1900 local (1800 GMT). We hope to see you then. Till then, goodbye and take care!
Birmingham Phoenix captain Moeen Ali says it was a great wicket to bat. Goes onto say Benjamin turned out to be a diamond, as he smacked it all across the park. Goes onto say after the time-out he just aimed to get the balls out of the park. Mentions he told the guys to go well if you are going well. Mentions Benjamin is a fantastic player and he has got a good passion for the game. Adds he played a second-team game earlier this year and it was then he came across Benjamin, who always hit the ball cleanly. Says he bowled 5 and once Jason Roy hit him for a biggie, he thought it’s a good wicket and kept himself away from it. Says with the caliber of players that they have, they just aim to back up each other and with the home crowd behind them, everything worked in their favour.
Earlier in the evening, Moeen Ali won the toss and opted to bowl. The decision felt like a tricky one at first as Oval Invincibles put on a massive total of 172. Ingram was the star for Invincibles as he starred with an unbeaten 81. That though did not prove to be enough on a track that was a belter for batting.
A look at the bowling figures and you will feel they were all expensive but it could have been so different had they got a little more support from their fielding. Once again the Oval Invincibles' fielding and catching has cost them the game. Saqib Mahmood, Tabrais Shamsi, and Sunil Narine all got into the wickets column with the former getting two. Topley and Curran were expensive. The latter will feel hard done by as he should have had Moeen Ali but Topley dropped a sitter. Three drops in the game and one can say that cost Invincibles the win.
For his brilliant finishing, CHRIS BENJAMIN IS NAMED HERO OF THE MATCH! Benjamin says he enjoyed it and it is always special to play against this crowd. Credits his teammates for setting it up for him. Benjamin says they do not look at the table right now as they need to focus on game by game and get more wins under their belt.
Chasing a huge total of 173, Birmingham Phoenix needed to start positively and that is what they did. Allen took the attack from the get-go and was looking good before he departed. Will Smeed then carried on where Allen left off. He scored a very good 45. Moeen Ali then continued from there and rode his luck. He made the most of his two drops and managed to score a scintillating 49. After his departure it looked like Phoenix might falter but Benjamin ensured there was no such drama and ensured his side got over the line with a little ease.
A fantastic chase from Birmingham Phoenix. They fly high and have chased down the highest total of The Hundred, Men's competition. They have done that with 6 balls remaining. Oval Invincibles once again succumb to a loss and just like their loss against Northern Superchargers, it is their fielding that has cost them yet again. The home crowd here were enjoying every moment of it and why wouldn't they.
BIRMINGHAM PHOENIX
174/4 (18.4)
49 (26)
45 (28)
2/34 (4)
1/36 (4)
Over 19
0
1
6
4
Chris Benjamin*
37 (16)
Benny Howell
7 (10)
Reece Topley
0/31 (3.4)
BPH
174/4
4
94
Reece Topley to Chris Benjamin ,FOUR! Timed to perfection. Chris Benjamin hits the winning runs and the crowd at Edgbaston is bouncing, A full length ball, on the pads. Chris Benjamin clips it through mid-wicket and into the gap for a boundary. Birmingham Phoenix WIN BY 6 WICKETS.
6
93
Reece Topley to Chris Benjamin ,SIX! Its gone all the way for six. A full length ball, on the pads. Chris Benjamin stays back and flicks it over the square leg fence for a biggie. How can he be so calm at this moment? Just brillaint.
1
92
Reece Topley to Benny Howell ,A full length ball, on the pads. Howell flicks it through square leg for a single.
0
91
Reece Topley to Benny Howell ,A dot to start. A full length ball, on off. Howell stays back and looks to pull it away. The ball goes towards mid-wicket off the inner half.
? It is going to Reece Topley. He comes in to bowl his final set of 5.
Over 18
2
4
0
1
wd
1
Benny Howell*
6 (8)
Chris Benjamin
27 (14)
Sunil Narine
1/41 (4)
BPH
163/4
1
90
Sunil Narine to Benny Howell ,Short around off, Howell punches it to sweeper cover and takes a single. 10 needed off 10 now.
wd
90
Sunil Narine to Benny Howell ,WIDE! Narine errs one down the leg side. Howell looks to flick but misses. Wided by the umpire.
1
89
Sunil Narine to Chris Benjamin ,On the pads, Chris Benjamin flicks it to square leg for one.
0
88
Sunil Narine to Chris Benjamin ,Darted fuller on off, Chris Benjamin pushes it to cover.
4
87
Sunil Narine to Chris Benjamin ,FOUR! The sweep this time and this time gets a boundary! Flighted delivery on middle, Chris Benjamin sweeps it behind square on the leg side. Jacks runs and puts a slide but he cannot hold onto it. He ends up parring it to the fence. The fielding has been very poor tonight once again from the Invincibles.