Jos Buttler’s 90 lights up the innings but Phoenix lose anyway

Jos Buttler - Lone star Buttler carried the Phoenix batting with a brilliant 90. He looked in complete control and kept them in the game. Despite Buttler’s heroics, the rest of the batting fell away. Lack of support meant Phoenix couldn’t build or finish strongly. Phoenix go down in flames. One-man show from Buttler, but no one else stepped up and they ended up on the losing side. As soon as play was possible after rain saw the abandonment of the women's game, the home side bossed this game. England legend Jos Buttler was the standout performer, his innings of 90 from 50 balls - the second highest in The Hundred at the ground - took Super Giants to an imposing total of 187-7 and may have left Phoenix regretting their decision to bowl first. Buttler fell just short of his century, but he hit five sixes and seven fours and enjoyed good support from Heinrich Klaasen (20) and then a grandstand finish from Tom Moores, who slammed five maximums in an unbeaten 17-ball 39, including two off the previously unhittable Usman Tariq. Phoenix batting collapses - 100 all out Chasing a big target, Phoenix surrendered meekly for 100 off 97 balls. After a steady start from Joe Clarke and Will Smeed, the middle and lower order had no answers. Super Giants bowling - No escape Just like vs Trent Rockets on Friday, no Phoenix bowler escaped punishment. With the ball, Super Giants were ruthless: Josh Tongue - real pace, 2 early scalps Sonny Baker and Gus Atkinson - continued to impress Noor Ahmed and Liam Dawson - spinners shut it down and snuffed out any chase Donovan Ferreira’s 23* was the top score for Phoenix. Super Giants didn’t just win — they went top of the men’s table and also took the summit in The Hundred Helix, the new combined men’s + women’s trophy. "Tom Moores wanted to take the spinners down, with the wind to the short boundary. Our quicks are bowling accurately, and this is as clinical a performance as I've been a part of." Manchester Super Giants 187 for 7 (Buttler 90) beat Birmingham Phoenix 100 by 87 runs