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Ash Gardner is going along very nicely, she's up to 34 from 21 balls, but Trent Rockets have still got a lot of work to do to get up to a competitive total - with just 40 balls left to do so.
Heather Graham is out there with Gardner but Northern Superchargers bowlers are doing a fine job of restricting the runs on a famously fast-scoring ground.
Phoenix are still dealing in singles. They pick up three off James Coles' second set.
Earlier on, Charlotte Taylor said "150 or 160 would be a good score" on this pitch. So, Phoenix have 40 balls to score another 100 runs...
Michael Carberry
Former England batter on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Michael Bracewell has been bowling nicely. He's had good control of his pace and made it hard for Livingstone and Clarke to really generate anything.
Ashwanth R Kavuluri
Cricviz analyst
Chris Jordan dismissed Duckett with a brilliant delivery, and then James Vince brought on Michael Bracewell (who averages 25 against left-handers and 49 against right-handers in 2025) as a match-up to Jacob Bethell.
He successfully took his wicket and, with a slightly short and wide delivery, got Will Smeed as an absolute bonus. Brave in complete control here.
Michael Bracewell returns and Liam Livingstone and Joe Clarke exchange five singles.
There's only been one boundary since the end of the powerplay.
Michael Carberry
Former England batter on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
A bit of a repair job from Brimingham Phoenix with Liam Livingstone and Joe Clarke at the crease. Probably two of Phoenix's better batters and a lot will rely on their shoulders.
The bowling quality just keeps coming for Southern Brave.
James Vince turns to Tymal Mills for the first time today and the swaggering quick concedes just three runs.
At the halfway mark, Birmingham Phoenix are 51-3. Phoenix have stemmed the flow of wickets - they haven't lost one for 15 balls. But when will Liam Livingstone and Joe Clarke kick up a gear?
Sciver-Brunt c Litchfield b Cross 15 (Rockets 47-4)
Huge wicket for Kate Cross and Northern Superchargers!
Nat Sciver-Brunt tries to make the most of the short leg-side boundary but doesn't middle the pull shot and is caught at deep backward square by Phoebe Litchfield. Simple catch.
It comes a couple of balls after a let-off for Ash Gardner.
The Rockets skipper Gardner tried to flash the ball through the off side, got a thick edge and Lucy Higham gets a hand to it as she dived to her left.
The ball popped out, though, so the Aussie star remains.
Liam Livingstone has hit more sixes (55) than anyone else in the history of the men's Hundred; ahead of Phil Salt (47) and Will Jacks (46).
Image source, Getty ImagesAnd that's Craig Overton done for the day with the ball. He finishes with 0-22, with six runs coming from his final set.
It's been a sensible start from Liam Livingstone and Joe Clarke, who are trying to rebuild Phoenix's innings. The inventive strokes attempted by Ben Duckett have been parked for the time being.
Michael Carberry
Former England batter on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Liam Livingstone found the gap beautifully. Good footwork, he got deep in the crease. If you're hitting powerfully you want to make sure you get full value for your shots.
Ashwanth R Kavuluri
Cricviz analyst
Jacob Bethell in the Hundred -
Against pace: 28.20 average, 133 strike-rate
Against spin: 10.25 average, 100 strike-rate
I'd have been tempted to give Michael Bracewell another set. Hey-ho.
James Coles' first four deliveries are tight but Liam Livingstone dispatches the fifth away to the boundary, pulling with all his might. A welcome four.
Rebuild required from Birmingham Phoenix.
Ashwanth R Kavuluri
Cricviz analyst
Grace Ballinger successfully saved Southern Brave's lowest total in the powerplay (11-3 vs OI, 2021).
Rockets were 9-3 before the start of her set.
Nat Sciver-Brunt and Ash Gardner are helping Trent Rockets build into this innings with 30 balls gone.
Gardner has got the ball down to the deep third boundary a couple of times while Sciver-Brunt hammered a free hit from Grace Ballinger over the leg side and into the stands.
Michael Carberry
Former England batter on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
It's the big wicket of Will Smeed. A huge blow for Birmingham Phoenix. That's just not what they wanted to happen at all. A good piece of bowling from Michael Bracewell.
Henry Moeran
Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Problem time for Birmingham Phoenix.
Smeed c Evans b Bracewell 13 (Phoenix 36-3)
Oh, it's all going wrong for Birmingham Phoenix.
Michael Bracewell catches an edge from Will Smeed and the nick carries to Laurie Evans, who's stood right up to the stumps.
Bracewell has 2-2 from his first five.
Michael Carberry
Former England batter on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
It didn't look like a particularly good shot from Jacob Bethell. He wasn't really looking to hit the ball straight, he was more looking to access mid-wicket but the ball wasn't really turning. He looks very short of form at the moment.
Bethell b Bracewell 1 (Phoenix 35-2)
Image source, Getty ImagesAnother successful bowling change from James Vince.
Spinner Michael Bracewell comes in and removes Jacob Bethell with his second delivery. The ball went right through him and the bails scattered in opposite directions.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Dots | 4s | 6s | Minutes | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Smith,run out Wareham Smith, run out Wareham | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 25.00 |
Scrivens,caught Sutherland, bowled Cross Scrivens, caught Sutherland, bowled Cross | 1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 20.00 |
Wraith,caught Litchfield, bowled Smith Wraith, caught Litchfield, bowled Smith | 1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 20.00 |
Sciver-Brunt,caught Litchfield, bowled Cross Sciver-Brunt, caught Litchfield, bowled Cross | 15 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 100.00 |
Gardner,caught Wareham, bowled Ballinger Gardner, caught Wareham, bowled Ballinger | 61 | 32 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 35 | 190.63 |
Graham,caught Wareham, bowled Sutherland Graham, caught Wareham, bowled Sutherland | 15 | 23 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 65.22 |
Jones,caught Perrin, bowled Cross Jones, caught Perrin, bowled Cross | 12 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 120.00 |
King,run out Heath King, run out Heath | 10 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 125.00 |
Stonehouse,not out Stonehouse, not out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 100.00 |
Extras, no balls 6, wides 4, byes 0, leg byes 1, total 11 Extras, no balls 6, wides 4, byes 0, leg byes 1, total 11 | |||||||
Total,128 for 8 100 balls Total,128 for 8 100 balls |
| Bowler | Balls | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Dots | No balls | Wides | 4s | 6s | Economy rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ballinger | 20 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7.50 |
Smith | 20 | 1 | 19 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5.70 |
Cross | 20 | 0 | 31 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 9.30 |
Sutherland | 20 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7.20 |
Wareham | 20 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8.40 |
| Fall of wicket | Batter |
|---|---|
1 for 1 (5 balls) | Smith |
4 for 2 (12 balls) | Wraith |
5 for 3 (18 balls) | Scrivens |
47 for 4 (43 balls) | Sciver-Brunt |
94 for 5 (74 balls) | Gardner |
115 for 6 (90 balls) | Jones |
115 for 7 (92 balls) | Graham |
128 for 8 (100 balls) | King |
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Dots | 4s | 6s | Minutes | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Perrin,not out Perrin, not out | 72 | 40 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 52 | 180.00 |
Davidson-Richards,caught Sciver-Brunt, bowled Graham Davidson-Richards, caught Sciver-Brunt, bowled Graham | 11 | 20 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 55.00 |
Litchfield,bowled McCarthy Litchfield, bowled McCarthy | 22 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 220.00 |
Sutherland,not out Sutherland, not out | 18 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 163.64 |
Extras, no balls 4, wides 1, byes 0, leg byes 1, total 6 Extras, no balls 4, wides 1, byes 0, leg byes 1, total 6 | |||||||
Total,129 for 2 79 balls Total,129 for 2 79 balls |
| Bowler | Balls | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Dots | No balls | Wides | 4s | 6s | Economy rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stonehouse | 15 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8.00 |
McCarthy | 10 | 0 | 23 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 13.80 |
Gardner | 15 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8.40 |
Graham | 15 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8.80 |
King | 14 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 12.00 |
Gordon | 10 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8.40 |
| Fall of wicket | Batter |
|---|---|
62 for 1 (46 balls) | Davidson-Richards |
95 for 2 (60 balls) | Litchfield |
