Southern Brave secured a decisive victory over Birmingham Phoenix at Edgbaston, propelling themselves to the top of the table in The Hundred men’s competition. The match showcased a thrilling contest, particularly highlighted by Jonny Bairstow’s standout performance.
The Brave posted an impressive score of 169-2, marking the second highest total of the season. Despite a valiant effort from Phoenix’s Ben Duckett, who amassed more than two-thirds of his team’s runs, it wasn’t enough to claim victory.
During the match, Phoenix captain Moeen Ali won the toss and chose to bowl first. Southern Brave’s James Vince and Alex Davies laid a solid foundation, amassing 31 runs in the powerplay, and accelerating to 81 runs off 45 balls by the end of the first five overs.
Vince’s extraordinary innings included a remarkable 90 not out from 47 balls, featuring six fours and six sixes, marking the highest score of the season—until Duckett surpassed it later in the game. Kieron Pollard contributed significantly with a rapid 38 not out from 22 balls. Moeen Ali’s bowling proved to be the most economical, conceding only 10 runs from his 10 deliveries.
Birmingham Phoenix came out strong in their chase, with Duckett racing to a swift 21-ball half-century, bringing the score to 92-1 in just 49 balls, keeping the match evenly balanced. However, Brave’s bowlers unleashed a furious spell, taking five wickets for just five runs in a mere 18 deliveries, with Chris Jordan’s tight bowling dismissing Liam Livingstone, which set the tone for the collapse.
Ultimately, Duckett scored 92 runs off just 45 balls, hitting eight fours and five sixes, but the rest of the lineup struggled, managing only four fours combined.
Player of the Match: James Vince
In a parallel matchup, Jonny Bairstow outperformed his long-time teammate Joe Root as Welsh Fire triumphed over Trent Rockets in a high-stakes game at Trent Bridge. Bairstow’s 55 runs off 45 balls emerged as the highlight of the match.
While the Rockets appeared to be favorites through most of the contest, Fire’s exceptional fielding in the closing stages dramatically changed the outcome, with brilliant catches turning the tide. The final thrilling moments saw Fire clinch victory by just four runs, aided by David Payne and Haris Rauf’s composed bowling.
Despite being poised for victory, the Rockets suffered a succession of wickets in the intense final minutes, including Root, who was run out in a comical mix-up while scoring 17 runs.
With a score of 129-6, Welsh Fire achieved a competitive total, putting pressure on the Rockets, who were looking to claim the top of the table with a win.
Player of the Match: Jonny Bairstow
The Hundred continues with four matches set for Sunday, featuring teams battling for key positions on the leaderboard. Fans can look forward to exhilarating gameplay as the competition heats up.
