Summary

  • The Hundred: Trent Rockets v Birmingham Phoenix men, Trent Bridge

  • Rockets chase 112 to win by three wickets with one ball to spare

  • Rockets 113-7 (99 balls): Ahmed 37 (23); Bethell 2-22

  • In passing 69 during chase, Rockets guaranteed second spot in table

  • It means they will progress to Sunday's final v Invincibles if Saturday's Eliminator v Superchargers is washed out

  • Already-eliminated Phoenix made 111-9 (100 balls): Mousley 26 (25); Ahmed 3-15

Live Reporting

by Ffion Wynne & Matthew Henry

  1. Phoenix 42-1

    Lockie Ferguson has a wry smile on his face because he could so easily have a second wicket as Joe Clarke edges where first slip was standing earlier.

    There ends the powerplay. The Phoenix have probably edged it.

  2. Thea Brookes
    Former Birmingham Phoenix all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Ben Duckett did not time that at all so he got nothing on it. An easy catch for Rehan Ahmed - he will never drop a chance like that.

  3. wicket

    WICKET

    Duckett c Ahmed b Ferguson 20 (Rockets 36-1)

    Ben Duckett's tournament ends on the pull. He has skewed this one straight to mid-wicket off the pace of Lockie Ferguson.

  4. Players with over 1,000 Hundred runs

    Kieran Parmley
    CricViz analyst

    Men's: Phil Salt, James Vince, Ben Duckett

    Women's: Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophia Dunkley, Laura Wolvaardt

    Phoenix captain Liam Livingstone needs 14 runs today to join the 1,000 club

  5. 6 runs

    Phoenix 35-0

    Smeed 13, Duckett 20

    It doesn't take much to clear the boundaries at Trent Bridge - they are very, very short - and Will Smeed has cleared the one at deep square-leg here with a crunching pull.

  6. Thea Brookes
    Former Birmingham Phoenix all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    I love the intent from Birmingham Phoenix here. They are pushing for every single run and capitalising on every ball.

  7. Phoenix 24-0

    Ben Duckett drives in slightly awkward, wristy fashion to take his third boundary down the ground. Duckett has had a relatively quiet time of it since the Test series. He'll be playing for England in the ODIs v South Africa next week.

  8. Thea Brookes
    Former Birmingham Phoenix all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    It is a hard role to play as an opener. You have to try and go hard in the powerplay and your job is to fire from ball one.

    When you get to your third or fourth batters, they are allowed to have a couple of balls to create a platform and have more time to do so.

  9. Phoenix 19-0

    Smeed 4, Duckett 14

    David Willey's heels flick again as he charges after a mid-timed strike from Ben Duckett. He gets the just in time to flick it back before the boundary rope and is now puffing a little as he returns his cap to bowl again.

  10. Kieran Parmley
    CricViz analyst

    This is the seventh time Trent Rockets have bowled first this season, this has only happened once before in a men's Hundred group stage (Southern Brave, 2022)

  11. Phoenix 14-0

    Back-to-back boundaries on the drive by Ben Duckett off seamer Ben Sanderson.

  12. Daniel Norcross
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Birmingham Phoenix have freedom and can do whatever they want. That makes them dangerous because people often play better when there is no pressure on them.

  13. Rockets 6-0

    Smeed 4, Duckett 1

    The first over is a relatively accurate one from David Willey, who flicks his heels more than anyone I've seen as he runs in. Is it too niche to discuss the world's flickiest runners? I think so.

    The last ball of the over is chipped completely unintentionally by Will Smeed into a gap behind the bowler.

  14. Phoenix 0-0

    It seems we are ready to go. Will Smeed is scratching at his guard and Ben Duckett playing a few shadow strokes.

    David Willey has a slip in place.

  15. How's stat?!

    Kieran Parmley
    CricViz analyst

    Ben Cox comes into the Rockets side to become the 18th different player used by the Trent Rockets this season, the joint-most in the men's Hundred alongside Manchester Originals.

    By contrast Birmingham Phoenix have used only 14 players, the joint least alongside Oval Invincibles and Southern Brave.

  16. Joe RootGetty Images

    Joe Root has scored 140 runs for one dismissal in his past two matches. Another good knock tonight and those calls for him to be recalled for the T20 World Cup will grow louder.

  17. The teams

    Rockets have made a couple of changes. Bowler Sam Cook and wicketkeeper Tom Moores are replaced by Ben Sanderson and Ben Cox. Phoenix are unchanged.

    Trent Rockets: Joe Root, Max Holden, Tom Banton, David Willey (capt), Marcus Stoinis, Ben Cox (wk), Rehan Ahmed, Sam Hain, Ben Sanderson, Lockie Ferguson, George Linde

    Birmingham Phoenix: Ben Duckett, Will Smeed, Joe Clarke (wk), Liam Livingstone (capt), Jacob Bethell, Dan Mousley, Liam Patterson-White, Benny Howell, Chris Wood, Adam Milne, Trent Boult

  18. Rockets win the toss & bowl
    Breaking

    First things first, the toss.

    The hosts have won it and are going bowl first.

  19. What's at stake?

    Men's table

    Right then.

    Are you listening? We already know Oval Invincibles, Trent Rockets and Northern Superchargers will be the top three in this year's men's competition.

    Invincibles are all-but certain of finishing top and securing a direct route to the final but if Rockets were to win big - and I mean almost 200-run big - against Birmingham Phoenix tonight that would change.

    The slightly bigger concern for Rockets is ensuring they finish second, which would mean they go through to the final if the eliminator is washed out.

    For that to happen they just need to avoid a defeat big enough for their net run-rate to dip below Superchargers'. Clear?