Livingstone's fireworks help Phoenix sneak thriller against Invincibles

BBC News

2 days ago

Update:
Date: 21:40 BST
Title: Goodbye
Content: Well, that was fun.
We're off for a lie down - you can take a read of Matthew Henry's report as Birmingham Phoenix beat Oval Invincibles with the third-highest successful chase in the history of the men's competition.
We've got four games for you on Wednesday with two double-headers
Southern Brave host Northern Superchargers with the women's match starting at 11:30 BST and the men's at 15:00, while Manchester Originals travel to Welsh Fire - their games are at 15:00 in the women's competition with the men following from 18:30.
You'll be able to follow ball-by-ball commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.
See you tomorrow!
Update:
Date: 21:36 BST
Title: Post
Content: Birmingham Phoenix captain Liam Livingstone on BBC Two: "That innings was nice, we needed it! It has been a bit of a disappointing start to the tournament so we certainly needed a result. It is kind of nice to lead from the front, hopefully that gives the boys a bit of momentum and confidence.
"I was trying to be there at the end. Something I haven't done a lot of in my career is be there to walk off having won the game, so it was in the back of my mind. We still needed to take some risks and I felt the longer boundary was an easier hit for some reason today. I don't know why, it just felt like it was more into my arc.
"I don't know why Tom [Curran] decided to spray me when he got Jacob [Bethell]. I have no idea why. He is one of my good friends, I've played Lions cricket with him for so long, and he called me a 'fat slob' or something.
"The win is massive. There is no hiding in this competition. If you lose a couple of games, you can be up against it. Hopefully this gives us a bit of confidence going forward, but we are still right up against it."
Update:
Date: 21:34 BST
Title: Post
Content: Oval Invincibles' opening bowler Jason Behrendorff went for a tidy 0-14 from his 15 balls, but didn't return after the 20th ball.
I didn't spot him go off the field - it's possible he did - but I'm surprised he didn't get to complete his allocation if he stayed on.
Update:
Date: 21:31 BST
Title: Post
Content: Birmingham Phoenix's Will Smeed on BBC Two: "That was incredible. It was nice to come out on the right side of a close game. Hopefully everyone in the ground enjoyed watching that and hopefully that is the start of a successful competition for us as well.
"I felt like I was ready to walk off after the first 10 balls to be fair, I just couldn't hit the ball at all but I just stuck in there. [Liam] Livingstone at the end, that was ridiculous! That is just what he does and that is why he is playing around the world and doing the stuff he has done. It was insane to watch. There's not many people that can do what he has done today.
"I wasn't nervous at the end, I always back the boys. When you need three runs off the last five balls, you back yourself. It was great to come out on the right side today."
Update:
Date: 21:28 BST
Title: Post
Content: Saqib Mahmood finishes with figures of 3-28 off his 13 balls, having almost bowled his side back into contention in the final set.
Meanwhile Phoenix skipper Liam Livingstone got to watch all the closing drama from the other end - he walks off unbeaten on 69 from 27 balls.
Update:
Date: 21:26 BST
Title: Post
Content: Alana KingTrent Rockets leg-spinner on BBC Two
Thrilling! We had one batters from each side really showcase their skills.
Liam Livingstone didn't come out of the blocks as we thought, but once he got going he was going to be hard to stop!
The Birmingham Phoenix fans are quite delighted with that game. What a game of cricket.
Update:
Date: 21:24 BST
Title: Post
Content: Henry MoeranCommentator on BBC Two
Pressure? What pressure?
What a game of cricket! The third highest run chase in the men's Hundred.
Birmingham Phoenix get over the line and this crowd have been royally entertained. A fabulous performance from the skipper Liam Livingstone.
Update:
Date: 2 balls left
Title: Birmingham Phoenix win by four wickets
Content: Phoenix 182-6
Benny Howell wins it for the home side!
The Phoenix batter pushes away the hat-trick ball and his shot evades the diving fielder in the covers and progresses steadily the boundary for four.
That inning swung all over the place
Update:
Date: 3 balls left
Title: WICKET
Content: Kimber b Mahmood 0 (Phoenix 178-6)
Back-to-back wickets for Saqib Mahmood!
Is he going to save the game with wickets?
Full and straight, Louis Kimber tries to get leg side and is castled.
Mahmood on a hat-trick, with Benny Howell coming in...
Update:
Date: 4 balls left
Title: WICKET
Content: Mousley lbw b Mahmood 11 (Phoenix 178-5)
Umpire's call - Mousley has to go.
Ball tracking has a strike on the very base of leg stump, the Phoenix batter perhaps a little unfortunate.
Update:
Date: 4 balls left
Title: Umpire review
Content: Dan Mousley struck on the pads, up goes the umpire's finger.
The batter reviews, why wouldn't he?
Update:
Date: 21:18 BST
Title: Post
Content: Ravi BoparaFormer England all-rounder on BBC Two
Saqib Mahmood has got a tough job to defend three runs here. You don't often see it done.
If he manages to pull this one off, there is going to be a party in Birmingham.
Update:
Date: 21:17 BST
Title: Post
Content: Alana KingTrent Rockets leg-spinner on BBC Two
Liam Livingstone is absolutely box office. I love watching him bat.
He doesn't die wondering. When it is hit, it stays hit.
Update:
Date: 5 balls left
Title: Phoenix 178-4
Content: 3 runs needed
Tom Curran finishes with a delivery that's just within the tram lines on the off side.
Livingstone can only squeeze a single, moving to 69 from 27.
Saqib Mahmood needs to defend three from the final set of five deliveries, with Dan Mousley facing initially.
Update:
Date: 6 balls left
Title: Phoenix 177-4
Content: 4 runs needed
Livingstone blocks out a yorker - Phoenix still hustle through two.
Update:
Date: 21:16 BST
Title: Post
Content: Ravi BoparaFormer England all-rounder on BBC Two
This is clean striking from Liam Livingstone.
You can tell when a batsman is in the zone. The head is still and the eyes are level.
Update:
Date: 8 balls left
Title: Phoenix 175-4
Content: 6 runs needed
Again!
Tom Curran sits it up nicely, suddenly Phoenix look comfortable.
Update:
Date: 8 balls left
Title: Phoenix 169-4
Content: 12 runs needed
And six now!
Heaved over the leg side.
Phoenix real favourites now.
Update:
Date: 9 balls left
Title: Phoenix 163-4
Content: 18 runs needed
Liam Livingstone smashes through the covers off Tom Curran's first ball!
It's all to play for...
Update:
Date: 21:13 BST
Title: How's stat?!
Content: Kieran ParmleyCricviz analyst
Liam Livingstone has now hit 21 sixes off Rashid Khan in T20 cricket, nine more than the next highest batter (Chris Gayle, 12).