With this win, Birmingham Phoenix move third on the table for now and keep their hopes alive while it is nothing but over for Welsh Fire. That is all from this game. Two more games coming up tomorrow. Oval Invincibles will take on London Spirit first. Join us at 7 pm IST (1.30 pm GMT) and earlier for the build up. Till then, cheers!
Sean Abbott is the Player of the Match. He says the condition was tricky but he kept it simple and bowled mostly on the good length. Tells they were fortunate to keep taking wickets regularly, communication was important among the bowlers. Shares they are always trying to put pressure on the other team, the guys are doing the job well.
Welsh Fire were 10-15 runs short to the total. The likes of Matt Henry, Haris Rauf or David Willey didn't use the experience on top. They stuck to the short ball mantra which clearly didn't work for them. However, they could have used more slower balls or variations to get into the game. Welsh Fire found wickets but it was too late in the end as there were not many runs left to defend during that time.
Job done in the end by Birmingham Phoenix! A must win game for Birmingham Phoenix and they have put in a statement performance. The opening stand did most of the job. The pair of Moeen Ali and Ben Duckett were unstoppable. Just like their previous match, the duo opened with no fear of losing wickets and scored runs freely. The duo added 114 runs at the top. Moeen Ali fell after his fifty and there was a small collapse late in the chase but Duckett hung in there till the end to see it out.
In over# 19
4
1
4
David Willey 27/1(3.3)
93
4
FOUR! Job done! A length ball, outside off, Benny Howell smashes it down to long off for a boundary. Birmingham Phoenix win by 5 wickets.
92
1
A length ball on off, Duckett knocks it to covers for a single.
91
4
FOUR!! OVER MID OFF! Fifty for Duckett but 3 more runs to win! Fuller delivery, outside off, Duckett punches on the up over mid off for a boundary.
In over# 18
2
0
0
0W
0
David Willey 18/1(3)
90
2
7 runs needed now. Duckett on strike! Full and outside off, Howell smashes it over to covers for a couple of runs.
89
.
Almost edged it. Full and outside off, angled away. Howell looks to drive it away but misses.
88
.
A length ball on off, Benny Howell drops it to point.
OUT! TAKEN! Jacob Bethell goes for the glory shot and holes out. Four wickets in 7 balls. Shorter and outside off, Jacob Bethell skips down and swings across only to get a thick top edge to mid off where Matt Henry takes a simple catch.
87
W
OUT! TAKEN! Jacob Bethell goes for the glory shot and holes out. Four wickets in 7 balls. Shorter and outside off, Jacob Bethell skips down and swings across only to get a thick top edge to mid off where Matt Henry takes a simple catch.
86
.
This is full and outside off, Jacob Bethell pushes it to cover.
David Willey is back on. Also, Jacob Bethell walks to the middle.
In over# 17
0W
1
0W
4
0W
Haris Rauf 24/2(4)
OUT! LBW! Dan Mousley has reviewed it. A good length ball on middle straight enough to ping Dan Mousley on the pads who fails to defend. An appeal and up goes the finger. Dan Mousley takes it upstairs but the replay shows the wickets are hitting. Yet another twist.
85
W
OUT! LBW! Dan Mousley has reviewed it. A good length ball on middle straight enough to ping Dan Mousley on the pads who fails to defend. An appeal and up goes the finger. Dan Mousley takes it upstairs but the replay shows the wickets are hitting. Yet another twist.