Birmingham Phoenix fly past Trent Rockets in Edgbaston battle

Birmingham Phoenix came out on top in a big-hitting contest against Trent Rockets at Edgbaston. Played at Edgbaston, it turned into a real slugfest with plenty of boundaries and momentum swings. The Phoenix "soared beyond" the Rockets - meaning they posted/chased big and finished stronger to take the win. Home advantage and power hitting at Edgbaston pushed Birmingham Phoenix past Trent Rockets in a thrilling, high-scoring Hundred match. After the powerplay, the Rockets' openers Ben Duckett and Finn Allen had smashed 54 unbroken runs and were up with the rate. The Phoenix needed their Pakistan overseas star Usman Tariq, with his canny round-arm off-breaks, to undo the partnership, inducing a skewed lofted drive from Allen to be caught by Scott Currie at long-on. Duckett continued to push on, only for Currie, a £210k purchase for Birmingham, to produce a beautiful delivery that jagged off the pitch to find the edge. With both openers perishing just shy of a half-century, the Rockets lost momentum in the middle third. Irrepressible on a true Edgbaston pitch. Clarke and Smeed dominated the powerplay: 54 runs off the first 25 balls. Both made half-centuries. Joe Clarke starred with 68 off 33 balls 7 fours, 4 sixes — a "stroke-making masterclass". Rockets chase Tariq led the bowling attack and kept them in check. Key moment: Tim David out for 2, caught behind by Clarke. Tom Banton gave it a late push with 67 off 32 balls at the death, but it wasn't enough. Rockets finished 10 runs short. Phoenix’s explosive top order set up the win, and Tariq’s early strike on David plus tight bowling saw them hold on despite Banton’s late fireworks. "I didn't want to get out being defensive, so I thought I'd be ultra-aggressive, tried to put them off their lengths and luckily it came off in my favour." On keeping wicket to the overseas star Usman Tariq: "It's interesting! I've spent the last few days keeping to him in the nets, trying to work out which balls are which, so it's going to be a hell of an experience through the tournament. He's been quality, and a very good 20 balls from him tonight." Birmingham Phoenix 214 for 4 (Clarke 68, Harrison 2-27) beat Trent Rockets 204 for 7 (Banton 67, Tariq 2-36) by 10 runs