Liam Livingstone hit an unbeaten 92 off 40 balls
Birmingham Phoenix made short work of Northern Superchargers’ 143/8 as Liam Livingstone smashed an unbeaten 92 off 40 balls which included 3 fours and 10 sixes. The innings eclipsed Tom Koehler-Cadmore’s effort in the first innings – 71 off 44 balls – a fine attack from the Superchargers’ bowlers.
He changed the game with his bowling, finishing with 3 for 25, before making life hell for the Superchargers bowlers Liam Livingstone.
Good start between Kohler-Cadmore and Chris Lynn
The Superchargers got off to a good start between Kohler-Cadmore and Chris Lynn as the opening pair put on 95 runs. The pair went trigger-happy on the big hit, and Koehler-Cadmore also hit Patrick for three sixes and two fours in five balls. Captain Livingstone took it upon himself to end the flying partnership and did it with a toss-up delivery that tricked Chris Lynn into playing a false shot.
Although this stand gave Northern Superchargers a solid platform, they could not take full advantage of it. Livingstone pulled out his opposite number – David Willey – just five balls after Chris Lynn departed to push the Superchargers down. They went from 103 to 2 for 143 to 8, even as Kohler-Cadmore fought their way to a good essay.
The Superchargers were undone by their middle-order failure, with John Simpson’s only other double-digit score in the innings apart from 11 openers. Liam Livingstone scored an unbeaten 92 off 40 balls. Livingstone took three wickets in the first half while Adam Milne and Benny Howell took two wickets each.
Match-winning second wicket partnership between Phoenix captain Livingstone and Finn Allen
Liam Livingstone was then in a hurry to seal the last spot. Although Willie was clean bowled off the fourth ball of the innings by Will Smeed, the match-winning second-wicket partnership between Phoenix captain Livingstone and Finn Allen. Livingstone was at the receiving end of his extreme passion for hitting sixes, as three of them were conceded in place of five deliveries. With the sixth six of his innings, Livingstone reached a 20-ball fifty – the fastest of the tournament – to propel his team into the zenith of the inaugural season.
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Phoenix reached 2 for 2 in just 19 balls from 112 to 147 for 2
Livingstone and Finn Allen reduced the equation to only 36 from 50 balls. Allen, who was the perfect foil for Livingstone while flexing his throat when the opportunity came, fell for 42 off 26 balls, but Tom Abell kept his captain company for the remainder of the chase. Phoenix went from 112 to 147 in just 19 balls to reach 2 for 2, with Abel conceding only eight runs off seven balls. Livingstone dismissed the win with the 10th six of his incredible innings to help his team win by eight wickets with 26 balls to spare.