In a pulsating contest at Edgbaston on Tuesday, the Birmingham Phoenix delivered a masterclass performance to outclass the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred, with a resounding 10-wicket victory. The Superchargers, after winning the toss and electing to bat first, suffered a dramatic collapse as they were bowled out for a paltry 83 runs – the second-lowest total in the history of the Men’s Hundred.
The Phoenix’s bowlers were in irresistible form, with the Kiwi duo of Tim Southee and Adam Milne wreaking havoc among the Superchargers’ batting line-up. Southee finished with figures of 3 for 15, while Milne chipped in with 3 for 20. The visitors never got going, with the likes of Ben Stokes failing to make an impact as he was dismissed for a golden duck by Southee.
Captain Harry Brook tried to steady the ship for the Superchargers, but the relentless pressure applied by the Phoenix bowlers proved too much to handle. The fielding was also top-notch, with Ben Duckett pulling off a sensational run-out to further dent the Superchargers’ hopes.
With a modest target of 84 runs to chase down, the Phoenix openers, Ben Duckett and Moeen Ali, wasted no time in wrapping up the game with an astonishing 10-wicket win. Duckett was in scintillating form, smashing 43 runs off just 20 balls, while Moeen provided able support with a quickfire 37 off 21 deliveries.
The victory for the Phoenix has put them in a strong position in the tournament, as they now leapfrogged the Superchargers into third place after five matches. The Superchargers, on the other hand, will need to regroup quickly if they are to keep their hopes alive of making it to The Hundred Eliminator.
In the aftermath of the match, Phoenix skipper, Moeen Ali, expressed his delight at the team’s performance, stating, “We executed our plans perfectly today and it’s a great feeling to come away with such a comprehensive win.” Meanwhile, Superchargers captain, Ben Stokes, rued his team’s batting collapse, admitting, “We just weren’t good enough with the bat today, and it cost us dearly.”
The Phoenix will now look to carry this momentum forward as they aim to secure a place in the latter stages of the tournament, while the Superchargers will be hoping for a quick turnaround in fortunes to keep their dreams alive in The Hundred.
