A length ball on off stump is met with a slog from the batter but only finds the top edge. The ball flies to backward point where the catch is taken, sending the batter back to the pavilion. Usman Tariq departs for 2 runs off 7 balls.
Liam Dawson bowls a stock ball, back of a length on middle stump. Usman Tariq pushes at it but the timing’s off and it stays firmly on the ground, resulting in no run.
Over 19. 3 runs. Bowler: Noor Ahmad. Birmingham Phoenix Men: 9-100(rr 5.26) The bowler sends in a tricky googly, landing outside off on the back of a length. Usman Tariq calmly pushes it along the ground, keeping the scoreboard quiet with no run taken. Birmingham Phoenix Men face a steep chase: 88 needed from 25 balls with just one wicket left and the odds firmly against them.
Currie plays a well-timed switch hit off a back of a length stock ball on middle stump, calmly pushing through for one. Birmingham Phoenix Men reach 100 for 9 in this tense stage.
Down the leg side, the bowler pitches a back of a length stock ball. The batter attempts a flick but misses, and the ball drifts wide, adding an extra wide run to the total.
A clever googly pitched back of a length just outside off stump is met with a controlled push from the batter, keeping it down and playing it safe for no run.
Over 18. 8 runs. Bowler: Sonny Baker. Birmingham Phoenix Men: 9-97(rr 5.39) Tariq pushes a back-of-a-length delivery just outside off stump, nudging it along the ground for a comfortable single. Usman Tariq gets off the mark. Birmingham Phoenix Men trail with 91 needed from 30 balls and only one wicket in hand, a steep chase underway.
A yorker on off stump with no movement. The batter attempts to steer but misses completely, and he’s bowled! A sharp delivery straight into the stumps. Saqib Mahmood departs for a duck off just one delivery.
Sonny Baker sends down a full-length delivery just outside off stump. Scott Currie drives it crisply, middle of the bat, racing through the long off region for four.
Over 17. 4 runs. Bowler: Josh Tongue. Birmingham Phoenix Men: 8-89(rr 5.24) Scott Currie attempts a drive off the length ball outside off, but misses cleanly as the reverse inswinger darts in sharply. Jos Buttler collects the dot ball comfortably behind the stumps. The chase is intense with Birmingham Phoenix Men requiring 99 from 35 balls and just two wickets left, facing a daunting required run rate of 17.
A back of a length delivery, wide outside off, is driven crisply through extra cover for four. The batter connects beautifully, timing it perfectly along the ground.
Over 16. 3 runs. Bowler: Liam Dawson. Birmingham Phoenix Men: 8-85(rr 5.31) This back of a length stock ball on leg stump sees the batter attempt an ambitious slog-sweep but it's mis-timed and goes high in the air. The shot ends in a catch at deep square leg, and Sean Dickson is dismissed. Sean Dickson leaves the crease after scoring 2 runs off 6 balls. Birmingham Phoenix Men face a steep chase, needing 103 from 40 with just 2 wickets left and daunting odds.
Liam Dawson delivers a back of a length stock ball on leg stump. Scott Currie works it carefully along the ground towards deep mid wicket, picking up a well-timed single.
Sean Dickson attempts a wild slog off a length ball aimed at middle stump but misses completely, and a leg-side bye is taken, fielded neatly by Sonny Baker at fine leg.
Sean Dickson leans into a crisp drive from this back of a length delivery, sending the ball neatly through the cover region. No run is taken as the fielder Noor Ahmad is alert in the covers.
Liam Dawson bowls a length stock ball outside off stump, and Scott Currie drives it firmly along the ground for a comfortable single. Scott Currie gets off the mark.
