Originals dominate Phoenix to move into thirdpublished at 21:45 British Summer Time 28 August 2022
Matthew Henry
BBC Sport cricket writer
Manchester Originals moved into the men's Hundred knockout places with a dominant 79-run win against Birmingham Phoenix at Edgbaston.
After setting the Phoenix 155 to win, the Originals, who would have been out with a defeat, dismissed their hosts for 75 in an innings of fine bowling and shoddy batting.
Spinner Tom Hartley removed opener Miles Hammond and captain Moeen Ali in the first five balls and things did not improve for the Phoenix.
Will Smeed hit 31 from 17 balls before he was caught in the deep, while Chris Benjamin was the only other player to reach double figures, with 13.
Opener Phil Salt made 56 from 38 balls in the Originals' 154-6, with Tom Lammonby also hitting an important 26 not out from 12 to boost the score late on.
The Originals are now third in the table, level on eight points with Oval Invincibles and Phoenix and two behind Trent Rockets and London Spirit.
With one round of games to go all five sides can finish in the top three and progress to the knockout stages.
What else happened?
- After cracking five fours and two sixes, Salt was given out lbw to Kane Richardson. He reacted angrily after attempting to review the decision and being told he had ran out of time to do so. Had he reviewed, the decision would have been overturned.
- Lammonby and Ashton Turner shared a partnership of 41 from 19 balls to boost the Originals at the end of their innings.
- As well as a series of poor shots, there were also two run-outs in the Phoenix's chase which resulted in the end of Benjamin and Tom Helm.
- Hartley added to the wickets of Hammond and Moeen by dismissing Brett D'Oliveira and Ben Dwarshuis to finish with figures of 4-22.
- Phoenix all-rounder Liam Livingstone was ruled out of the tournament earlier on Sunday with an ankle injury.
What's next?
The Phoenix play London Spirit on Tuesday in a crucial match for both teams.
The Originals meet the Invincibles on Wednesday in another game that will likely decide who progresses to the knockout stages.