Postpublished at 20:18 British Summer Time 9 August 2021
Thanks Tim.
Will Smeed is a player. Pass it on.
Image source, Getty ImagesSummary
Phoenix win in front of sell-out crowd to go top of the table
Tahir - oldest player in tournament - takes hat-trick with final three deliveries of the match
Moeen hammers 23-ball half-century; competition's second fastest
Smeed - the youngest player in men's Hundred - also strikes fast half-century
Phoenix skipper takes 26 runs off one set of five by White
Postpublished at 20:18 British Summer Time 9 August 2021
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 20:17 British Summer Time 9 August 2021
That was some incredible batting from Moeen Ali and teenager Will Smeed for Birmingham Phoenix.
Must be honest, I'm not giving Welsh Fire a prayer of chasing this down. If they do it will be the story of The Hundred so far.
Either way, my colleague Matthew Henry will guide you through every ball of their reply.
'I just stand and whack it!'published at 20:13 British Summer Time 9 August 2021
Birmingham Phoenix's Will Smeed talking to Sky Sports:"It was great fun.
"I'm not sure if the coaches will be happy with me just going out there and whacking it, but it is good fun, and I'll probably carry on doing it.
"Moeen and Liam Livingstone have been great, giving me little tips and advice, keeping me calm and getting me through this.
"It felt nice out there. I'm not too good at all the fancy stuff, so at the moment I just stand there and whack it."
Postpublished at 20:12 British Summer Time 9 August 2021
Olly Stone
England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraPhenomenal innings by Will Smeed.
Postpublished at 20:12 British Summer Time 9 August 2021
Will Smeed finishes unbeaten with 65 off 38 balls.
Postpublished at 20:11 British Summer Time 9 August 2021
Lauren Winfield-Hill
Northern Superchargers' women's captain on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraIt was a brilliant batting performance from the Phoenix. Every batter seemed to jump on the back of the one before them. There was a patch at the end where Welsh Fire dragged it back but then a flurry at the end.
Postpublished at 20:10 British Summer Time 9 August 2021
Olly Stone
England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraFire know they can't hold back. Sometimes when that happens you play with freedom and you get pretty close.
Phoenix 184-5published at 100 balls
Bosh! That's another six for Will Smead who ends the innings with another maximum. A full toss from Matt Milnes is picked up early by the Phoenix batter who whips it effortlessly over the square leg boundary. Brilliant.
That's the biggest score in The Hundred so far.
Phoenix 178-5published at 99 balls
Will Smeed rocks down on to one knee and slog sweeps Matt Milnes for a one-bounce four.
Phoenix 173-5published at 97 balls
A full toss from Matt Milnes is sliced away for four behind the wicketkeeper by new batter Miles Hammond.
Postpublished at 20:05 British Summer Time 9 August 2021
Henry Moeran
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraThis is a good fightback because it looked certain we would see the highest score of the competition.
WICKETpublished at 95 balls
Howell c Duckett b Payne 6
A leading edge to a David Payne delivery from Benny Howell and Ben Duckett takes an easy catch in the covers.
Phoenix 167-4published at 94 balls
The umpires inform Ben Duckett that Welsh Fire haven't made the time cut-off point so Welsh Fire are penalised and have to bring an extra man into the ring.
Benny Howell takes advantage by paddling David Payne for four.
New batter: Benny Howellpublished at 20:01 British Summer Time 9 August 2021
WICKETpublished at 92 balls
Benjamin b Payne 3 (Phoenix 161-4)
Chris Benjamin with a big waft of the willow but he misses a straight one from David Payne and sees the furniture rearranged behind him.
Postpublished at 20:01 British Summer Time 9 August 2021
Image source, BBC SportPostpublished at 20:00 British Summer Time 9 August 2021
Olly Stone
England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraThe figures aren't pretty for some of the bowlers so for Luke Fletcher to have come away with 0-21 from 20 balls he has done tremendously well.
Phoenix 160-3published at 90 balls
Ahhh Luke Fletcher! Chuckles all round as the big man stoops down to collect the ball with Will Smeed trying to dig out a single. He spins on his heels to get back in his crease but the thrown to the stumps from Fletcher is wide and laboured.
There was more than a hint of Angus Fraser about that from Fletcher.
Phoenix 160-3published at 88 balls
Luke Fletcher executing his skills beautifully with the ball, continuing with his yorkers and full deliveries of varying pace.
Two dots from his first three balls.
New batter: Chris Benjaminpublished at 19:56 British Summer Time 9 August 2021
