Callum Matthews
BBC Sport cricket writer

London Spirit guaranteed their place in the knockout stages of the men's Hundred, despite a one-wicket defeat by Birmingham Phoenix, who maintain a faint chance of progressing.

Phoenix climbed into third place with the win, but a positive result for either Manchester Originals or Oval Invincibles, who meet at Emirates Old Trafford on Wednesday, would see that team progress to Friday's eliminator.

A tie or no result would see Phoenix go through to face Spirit, with Trent Rockets now guaranteed a place in Saturday's final at Lord's.

Chasing 140 to win, Phoenix needed to win in 73 balls to guarantee a knockout spot, but eventually won off the final ball.

They needed five from the final set of five balls, with one wicket remaining, and, despite presenting Spirit with two run-out opportunities, got over the line.

Australia's Matthew Wade made a brilliant 81 off 42 balls to set up the win, while number 11 Tanveer Sangha finished unbeaten on 13 off nine deliveries.

Spirit, who could have finished top of the table by restricting Phoenix to 103 or less, earlier made 139-6, with Ravi Bopara cracking 45 off 20 balls.

Here's what else happened:

• England Test opener Zak Crawley returned for Spirit and struggled for fluency, making 20 off 29 balls.
• Tom Helm impressed with the ball, taking 4-17 for Phoenix, to make him the joint-leading wicket-taker in this year's tournament alongside Spirit's Jordan Thompson, who claimed 2-30.
• Phoenix slipped to 2-2 and 34-4 as they looked for quick runs at the start of their chase to try and guarantee a top-three spot.
• Leg-spinner Mason Crane finished with 4-24 for Spirit.

Image source, BBC Sport

London Spirit's captain Eoin Morgan: "There were a lot of dynamics within the game, both sides were looking to win.

"But what a great spectacle. Matthew Wade played brilliantly.

"No one apart from Wade struck it like that and it goes to show the class of the cricket is exceptional. It's great to see that sort of platform being created on a domestic stage.

"I've played here since I was 16-years-old and I love this club and group. I have some fantastic memories here. It's great to see the dynamic here too as the guys are now signing autographs and taking pictures.

"Ultimately you want to win the game and when it looks like you won't, you need to recognise what is needed to go through.

"Helm was absolutely outstanding for Phoenix and he has really struck through his strengths."

It was an absolute gem of an innings for Matthew Wade. He was clearly gutted not to be there at the end because the game was pretty much Spirit's when he departed.

He absolutely smashed 81 from 42 balls, including this absolute monster six.

Match Hero and Birmingham Phoenix wicketkeeper Matthew Wade: "It was an interesting game. We were going out to chase the score in 73 balls but things didn't go to plan so we just reeled it back in and just went for the win. We will do the rain dance tomorrow and see how it goes.

"When you lose early wickets it made it a bit harder at the end. My plan was to hit the short boundary, but at the strategic timeout we decided just to go for the win.

"I enjoy the big games, it's been an interesting tournament. I've been down the order learning my craft and I've had the chance to go up. I'm just trying to be versatile for the team and hopefully over the next year I can become a multi-position player and bat wherever the team needs me."

Ravi Bopara looked to have set London Spirit up for victory with his 45 from 20 balls which propelled them to 139.

Birmingham Phoenix were always going to go hard at the total, needing to win within 73 balls to keep their qualification hopes in their own hands.

So, here's what that result means for the men's table.

Trent Rockets are safely through to Saturday's final and will not have to play in the eliminator.

London Spirit are through to the eliminator.

But Phoenix's hopes of qualification rely on the game between Manchester Originals and Oval Invincibles tomorrow. If there's a tie or it's rained off, Phoenix are safe.

But any positive result, and they're done.

Image source, BBC Sport

Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Radio

It's a brilliant game of cricket at Lord's! We've been asking for a nail-biter and we got that this evening. A low-scoring thriller.

They have done it!

Tanveer Sangha, where have you been? An absolute gem of an innings at number 11 to finish with 13 not out!

Eoin Morgan looks disappointed but there are smiles all round for the team in orange.

Would you believe it! Brad Wheal has bowled a wide and then misses the run out opportunity at the other end!

Scores are level! What on earth has happened there?!

Oh, confusion! The batters nearly go for two but they settle for one, wisely, because that would've been it for Phoenix.

It's all come down to the last ball!

Another single.

Three from two! Eoin Morgan looks - to nobody's surprise - completely calm.

Tom Helm takes the single...

Blocked. Dot ball.

Brad Wheal starts nicely but he'll want a wicket, really. He won't want to have to bowl all four!

Single.

Five from five! It's going to be Brad Wheal to bowl the last five balls.

Perfect slower ball, Sangha swings and misses!

Another dot and it's a run a ball.

Full, straight, blocked back to the bowler.

Oh, it gets worse for London Spirit.

They haven't reached the cut-off time by the time they've bowled 95 balls, so they have got to bring an extra fielder in from the boundary.

Henry Moeran
BBC Radio

Sangha! What are you doing at 11? Great piece of batting.

Oh wow!

Ramped for four! What a little cameo this is from Sangha!

What have you got, Nathan Ellis?