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

Live Reporting

Kal Sajad and Ffion Wynne

  1. Isabelle Westbury
    Ex-Middlesex captain on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    That was absurd! He must have Velcro attached to his hand. A cracking catch.

  2. wicket

    WICKET

    Bopara c & b Milne 17 (Spirit 127-5)

    'What a catch' - Milne reacts quickly to remove Bopara caught & bowled

    Oh. My. Word. What a catch. We said Ravi Bopara needed to whack a few and he certainly whacked this one - it was nailed, Milne stuck out a hand and held on to it.

    That doesn't do it justice, so wait for the video in a bit. It was really good.

  3. Spirit 124-4

    As Crawley and Bopara go about setting their total, here's how London Spirit's captain Eoin Morgan fell earlier...

  4. Matthew Henry
    BBC Sport at Edgbaston

    Noise levels are rising at Edgbaston...

  5. Isabelle Westbury
    Ex-Middlesex captain on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    I thought he was going to get it on the second attempt. He parried the first one but had it in the second one.

  6. dropped catch

    Bopara dropped on 11

    Spirit 120-4

    Bopara has got to go for it. He's 11 from 12 balls, he clubs one hard straight at Moeen Ali who juggles it about 20 times before the ball eventually falls to the floor.

    Can Bopara capitalise on that?

  7. Aatif Nawaz
    BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra commentator

    Crawley lined him up all over and then finally got hold of one.

  8. 50 runs

    50 for Zak Crawley

    Spirit 117-4

    Zak Crawley thinks so! He thumps a four and a six from Tahir's last two balls and that takes him to 50. Well played.

  9. Spirit 104-4

    Imran Tahir is a very tricky bowler and Ravi Bopara is struggling to get him away here, so much so that Moeen Ali keeps him on to bowl 10 in a row.

    Time for the Spirit to go for it?

    25 balls to goBBC Sport

  10. Spirit 101-4

    And he thumps another four from Imran Tahir's first ball back.

    I've also just noticed that Tahir has trainers to match Birmingham's kit and I am living for it. That's worthy of winning Match Hero in itself.

  11. Spirit 97-4

    Zak Crawley is still there on 34, and he's looked good so far.

  12. Heather Knight
    England captain on BBC Radio 5 Live

    I think Ravi Bopara might have a bit between his teeth because he was originally signed by Phoenix and then released, before being picked up by Spirit.

  13. Spirit 95-4

    Ravi Bopara plays a nicely controlled edge for four as the Spirit ease closer to their hundred.

    I hope I don't curse him, but Crawley is on 34 and he's the key for Spirit here.

  14. Spirit 91-4

    Benny Howell completes his 20 balls and he has taken two wickets for 25 runs. Not a bad outing!

  15. Heather Knight
    England captain on BBC Radio 5 Live

    In comes Bopara, London Spirit have got some real experience. And they've still got Mohammad Nabi to come.

  16. New batter: Ravi Bopara

    Ravi BoparaGetty Images

  17. Aatif Nawaz
    BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra commentator

    Every time they build a bit of momentum, they lose a wicket.

  18. wicket

    WICKET

    Denly c Moeen b Howell 25 (Spirit 89-4)

    Why do I keep cursing all these batters?!

    Denly was just getting going but he's been deceived by another slower ball from Benny Howell and chipped it up to Moeen Ali.

  19. Heather Knight
    England captain on BBC Radio 5 Live

    London Spirit are set up quite nicely, they've managed to start building a bit of a partnership here.

  20. Spirit 87-3

    If these two can stay in, Spirit could be on for a pretty big total here. Still not sure what a 'good' total is in this format, but I'm sure that'll become clearer soon enough.