‌Men’s Hundred | Twitter reacts to Southee fifer topple Trent as Birmingham strengthens qualification chance

Eyeing to climb the points table ladder, the Birmingham Phoenix’s decision to field first reaped rewards with Chris Wood and Tim Southee wreaking havoc at the Rockets' top order. Both bowlers shared a couple of wickets each to reduce them to 22/4 in the powerplay. Imad Wasim and debutant Tom Alsop absorbed the pressure with an observative approach as they reached the 50-run mark in the twelfth set. However, the duo switched gears and stitched a 77-run fifth wicket stand before a struggling Wasim was retired out. This opened the doors for the Phoenix to further deepen the wounds for the Phoenix as Southee and Milne cleared the clutter amidst Aslop’s fifty with the New Zealand Test skipper claiming a fifer and bundling them for 118. 

In response, Ben Duckett cracked off a rollicking start as the scorecard read 31 with the southpaw scoring 30 runs within four sets. He walloped three sixes and a couple of fours before Luke Wood had the last laugh over him. Jamie Smith followed suit in the immediate next ball before Dan Mousley followed suit with Moeen Ali in the eighth set. Right after, Liam Livingstone and Jacob Bethell took their time and denied any further hiccups in the chase. Although the pair was carried away to rash strokes on occasions, he controlled his instincts and played safer shots. The Phoenix reached 104/4 after the 85th ball with run-a-ball 15 required. A couple of fours in the following over reduced the equation with Bethell seeing off the chase with a slashing four with seven balls to spare.

Won the match

Well played the Birmingham Phoenix 🏏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏💙💙💙��💙💙💙💙💙💙💙

— Alan Elwell (@elwell_alan) 

Different class

The biggest takeaway from this Phoenix innings is that Ben Duckett is just a different class. Whatever format he's playing in he just times the ball into next week 

— Rhys Knott (@wrhys_writes) 

Will be a big name

Priyanshu scout watch: John Turner is going to be a big name for England in future.

— Priyanshu. (@Priyanshu05112) 

Costing the match

Luke Wood no balls costing Rockets the match



Earlier height nb 4 + freehit 4

Now front foot nb 1run taken + freehit 6



Thats 10 + 9 -> 19 runs off 2balls in a 119 run chase

— Karthik Rao (@Cric_Karthikk) 

Ends

An innings to remember has come to an end 😔



Tom Alsop reaches 5⃣0⃣ runs with a SIX and is dismissed by the very next ball. |  

— The Hundred (@thehundred) 

Good debut

A very good debut from Tom Alsop 

— Akash (@akash_idiot) 

Motoring

Motoring right along is Tom Alsop 🤩 

— The Hundred (@thehundred) 

Promising player

Tom Alsop a promising youngster to look forward 👌

— 🆁🅾🅻🅴🆇ᶜʳⁱᶜᵏᵉᵗᵍᵉᵉᵏ (@RoshanSriram123) 

Denied

Tim Southee hat-trick denied 😵



A second best bowling performance in the men's competition, nonetheless! 5⃣ wickets for 1⃣2⃣ balls �� |  

— The Hundred (@thehundred) 

Missed it

Tim Southee gets 5 WICKETS, Missed HAT-TRICK



20 balls

12 runs

5 wickets 

— Abhijeet ♞ (@TheYorkerBall)