Summary

  • Rockets fall short despite Mullaney's 49; Brown 3-27

  • Phoenix post 166-6 - Livingstone 50, Hammond 38*

  • Livingstone's 31-ball 50 ended by Mullaney's superb boundary catch

  • Winners go top of table

Live Reporting

Jack Skelton and Phil Dawkes

  1. Rockets 59-4

    Need 108 runs to win

    Ton of experience at the crease in Steven Mullaney and Lewis Gregory so the Rockets aren't totally out of it.

    It's still a mighty ask.

    The worm shows Trent Rockets Men are six runs behind Birmingham Phoenix Men. Trent Rockets Men are 59 for 4 after 40 balls. At the same stage Birmingham Phoenix Men were 65 for 1.

  2. New batter: Lewis Gregory

    Lewis GregoryBBC/ECB

  3. Steven Finn
    Ex-England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    That is some celebration. I can't quite believe what I'm seeing. I knew he was animated but that is extreme. Samit Patel was cramped for room. Tahir goes off on a lap and then to the Rockets faithful to give it a couple of air punches. What a big moment that might be in this game.

  4. wicket

    WICKET

    Patel b Tahir 16 (Rockets 57-4)

    Imran Tahir sets off on his Andre de Grasse impression! A curve the 200m Olympic champion would be proud of.

    And why wouldn't you when you've just absolutely shattered Samit Patel's timbers with a gorgeous googly?

    Mullet flowing in fine style. Phoenix could romp away with this.

  5. Steven Finn
    Ex-England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    The Hundred is definitely a fast-paced game. Swings in momentum can be significant. That is why it is hard to tell if the win predictor is accurate.

  6. Rockets 57-3

    Benny Howell gets clattered behind point by Samit Patel but tightens up to just concede four off four.

    Hang on was the fourth a nick? Yep. But would've been a ridiculous catch by Chris Cooke.

  7. Alex Hartley
    Manchester Originals bowler on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    Brilliant shot from Steven Mulaney. He has given himself room and hit up and over extra cover. He timed the pants off it.

  8. Rockets 49-3

    Target 167

    Expensive from Tahir - Rockets take him for 13 off five balls.

  9. Rockets 48-3

    Need 124 runs to win

    Steven Mullaney was out of the tournament for a while, as a close contact of coach Andy Flower, following his positive Covid-19 test.

    He's making up for lost time - two brilliant catches earlier and now another two sublime lofted drive for four off Imran Tahir.

  10. 75 balls to goBBC Sport

  11. Rockets 36-3

    Target 167

    Samit Patel gets off to a fast start - slicing it away over third man for four, before swiping the next round the corner for four more.

  12. Alex Hartley
    Manchester Originals bowler on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    Short is furious with himself. He throws his bat up and then punches it. He has hardly played a shot there. If he had tried to hit it, it might have cleared that fielder. Liam Livingstone, the captain this evening, is loving it.

  13. New batter: Samit Patel

    Samit PatelBBC/ECB
  14. wicket

    WICKET

    Short c Livingstone b Brown 5 (Rockets 29-3)

    England T20 bowler Pat Brown enters the attack and removes D'Arcy Short.

    An odd shot from the Aussie, just trying to flick it round the corner, but with no great power and simply picking out Liam Livingstone at deep backward square leg.

    The Phoenix captain, leading his side in place of Test call-up Moeen Ali, is absolutely pumped. The visitors are well on top now.

  15. Alex Hartley
    Manchester Originals bowler on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    It is going to take D'Arcy Short to play himself in and build the platform for the Rockets. The Phoenix have been brilliant in the powerplay.

  16. Rockets 27-2

    Need 140 runs

    Steven Mullaney swipes the last of Dillon Pennington's set of 10 out to square leg for a single.

  17. Rockets 24-2

    Target 167

    Dillon Pennington gets another set of five and is greeted by new man Steven Mullaney clattering him over cover for four.

  18. New batter: Steven Mullaney

    Steven MullaneyBBC/ECB

  19. Alex Hartley
    Manchester Originals bowler on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    Phoenix had just taken slip out. Malan played outside his body to feather it down to the third-man boundary. It is a poor shot. He played it so far away from his body.

  20. wicket

    WICKET

    Malan c Cooke b Pennington 0 (Rockets 20-2)

    Not a costly drop at all!

    Dawid Malan falls for a three-ball duck, playing loosely at one angled across his and tickling it behind to Phoenix keeper Chris Cooke.

    Hales and Malan back in the hutch. Dillon Pennington has put his side on top earlier on in this chase.

    CC: Andrew Wilton and David Pares - that's a three-ball duck for Malan. Debate away.