Postpublished at 21:06 British Summer Time 23 July 2021
Aatif Nawaz
BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra commentator
Where did you find that shot, Chris Benjamin?!
Summary
Benjamin hits 24 off 15 to see Birmingham home
22-year-old only made professional debut five days ago
Crawley strokes 64 off 40 balls in London's 144-6
Two wickets apiece for Milne, Helm & Howell
Postpublished at 21:06 British Summer Time 23 July 2021
Phoenix 128-6published at 12 balls left
WHAT ON EARTH IS THAT SHOT?! Chris Benjamin plays a reverse scoop for six! I'm not sure I've ever seen a shot like that again. Ridiculous!
Postpublished at 21:04 British Summer Time 23 July 2021
Aatif Nawaz
BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra commentatorJust as Birmingham Phoenix started to recover, they're right back in trouble.
WICKETpublished at 14 balls left
Howell c Bopara b Cullen 17 (Phoenix 121-6)
Another twist in the tale. Howell skies it off the toe of the bat, it's in the air for an age but Ravi Bopara steadies himself to take a good catch.
Postpublished at 21:03 British Summer Time 23 July 2021
Heather Knight
England captain on BBC Radio 5 LiveI think he's saved four there, as opposed to dropping a catch.
Phoenix 121-5published at 15 balls
Chris Benjamin powerfully hits it back to Van der Merwe who does well just to get a hand on it. I'm not even going to call it a dropped catch.
Postpublished at 21:02 British Summer Time 23 July 2021
Heather Knight
England captain on BBC Radio 5 LiveBenny Howell is an excellent hitter at the end of an innings.
Postpublished at 21:02 British Summer Time 23 July 2021
Aatif Nawaz
BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra commentatorThat's gone miles!
Phoenix 119-5published at 17 balls left
Benny Howell is having a party! Roelof van der Merwe serves up a full toss which is just asking to be smashed into the crowd.
Postpublished at 20:58 British Summer Time 23 July 2021
Heather Knight
England captain on BBC Radio 5 LiveI think this could be a close finish, the run rate has crept up on Birmingham Phoenix. This is a key passage of play.
Phoenix 111-5published at 20 balls left
Phoenix need 34 runs from 20 balls
There's an appeal for a run out but Benjamin is easily back in his crease. This game is on a knife edge, it could go either way.
Eoin Morgan takes a strategic timeout to give us all a breather.
Worm updatepublished at 20:56 British Summer Time 23 July 2021
Phoenix 108-5published at 23 balls left
What a brilliant catch.... from the fella in the Hollies Stand. Howell takes a huge swipe at Chris Wood and it's a much needed six for the home side.
Phoenix 102-5published at 25 balls left
Benny Howell makes his way to the middle, joining Chris Benjamin.
They need 43 from 25 balls.
I'd say the momentum is firmly with London Spirit right now.
Image source, BBC SportPostpublished at 20:53 British Summer Time 23 July 2021
Charlie Taylor
BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraThat was the key wicket. Spirit right back in this.
WICKETpublished at 29 balls left
Moeen c Bopara b Van der Merwe 40 (Phoenix 98-5)
Catches win matches! And this is another fine piece of fielding.
Roelof van der Merwe is back in the action but this time with the ball in his hand as Moeen Ali lofts him back down the ground and Ravi Bopara takes a really smart catch as he runs in from the deep.
London Spirit have fought back so well here.
Postpublished at 20:50 British Summer Time 23 July 2021
Charlie Taylor
BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraHe did very well to hang on and I'm sure the crowd were trying to put him off there too!
Postpublished at 20:50 British Summer Time 23 July 2021
Isabelle Westbury
Ex-Middlesex captain on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraHe took the catch inside the boundary rope, he knew he was going to lose his balance so he threw the ball in the air, hopped in and out of the boundary and caught it again. Such good awareness.
WICKETpublished at 35 balls left
Bell Drummond c van der Merwe b Nabi 11 (Phoenix 96-4)
Absolute gem of a catch!
Roelof van der Merwe jumps up and takes the grab with both hands above his head, his momentum is taking him over the boundary rope so he throws the ball up, hops back inside the rope, and catches it again.
Class.
Postpublished at 20:46 British Summer Time 23 July 2021
Isabelle Westbury
Ex-Middlesex captain on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraWe've seen a few captains' innings so far - Dane van Niekerk and Sam Billings for the Oval Invincibles and now Moeen Ali here.
Image source, Getty Images