Hundred 2024: Dan Mousley’s Wonder Spell Snatches Victory For Birmingham Phoenix

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Dan Mousley snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for Birmingham Phoenix against Trent Rockets in The Hundred with a stunning final ten deliveries. Dan Mousley bowled a match winning spell of 3 for 9 in his 15 balls bowled, which included key wickets of Rashid Khan and Lewis Gregory, registering the Phoenix’s second win of the competition.

The young all-rounder  Dan Mousley took three wickets for just three runs to see Phoenix over the line from an almost impossible situation. The Rockets had earlier been cruising to victory – going at a run a ball for the first 20, which only included two boundaries but Dan Mousley’s terrific spin changed it all.

Pitch and Toss

The Trent Bridge pitch favors batters and the pacers tend to enjoy the early movement to get out of the deck. The ample bounce will assist the bowlers and the batters will enjoy the ball coming onto the bat. The weather will be cloudy with no real threat of rain during the game.

Trent Rockets skipper Lewis Gregory won the toss and chose to bowl with Joe Root coming in the playing XI. Birmingham Phoenix skipper Moeen Ali batting first brought in Ben Duckett in the playing XI.

Birmingham Phoenix reached 138 due to Jacob Bethell 46 runs innings

Earlier with bat in hand, Phoenix got off to a good start with Ben Duckett and Liam Livingstone setting the building blocks of a decent total. However, the introduction of Rashid Khan saw the back of Duckett leading to a clutter of five wickets for merely 38 runs. Jacob Bethell stayed unbeaten at the other end with a well made 46, giving the bowlers a respectable score to defend of 138.

Jacob Bethell’s unbeaten 46 had earlier dragged Phoenix to what was thought to be a sub-par 138 from the first 100 balls of the match. The English youngster showed all of his talent at the back-end of the innings with an array of shots from his 29 balls at the crease. Many of his Phoenix team-mates had struggled to score quickly thanks to world-class bowling from the Rockets attack, but their total proved to be enough – thanks in the main to Dan Mousley.

Dan Mousley’s wonder spell snatches victory for Birmingham Phoenix

Dan Mousley bowled a match winning spell of 3 for 9 in his 15 balls bowled, which included key wickets of Rashid Khan and Lewis Gregory, registering the Phoenix’s second win of the competition. Joe Root and Alex Hales had put on a partnership of 61, putting the Rockets in control of the chase. Rovman Powell’s power brought the equation down to 14 off 12 before a mini collapse from the Rockets saw them score only seven more runs in the final sets of the game.

Dan Mousley snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for Birmingham Phoenix against Trent Rockets in The Hundred with a stunning final ten deliveries. The young all-rounder took three wickets for just three runs to see Phoenix over the line from an almost impossible situation.

With the Rockets chasing 138, only ten runs were needed from the last ten balls with five wickets remaining, until Mousley took matters into his own hands by sending down spearing yorkers to bowl Lewis Gregory and Rashid Khan, before dismissing Jordan Thompson for a golden duck. The Rockets had earlier been cruising to victory – going at a run a ball for the first 20, which only included two boundaries.

The new top-ranked men’s Test batter in the world Joe Root came into the side and accelerated the scoring during the powerplay, with 17 from his first six balls, including a trademark reverse scoop to clear the rope. When he was dismissed for 33 from 19 balls, Rockets pushed singles and twos on their way to the target but approaching the finishing line the hosts lost Rovman Powell and Sam Hain to consecutive balls, which allowed pressure to build and the Rockets ultimately came up short.

Presentations and Road Ahead

Meerkat Player of the Match Dan Mousley said :“I was just trying to get as many yorkers in as I possibly could, and keep it under the bat and try to get them to make a mistake.” In relation to the pace of his bowling, he added: “It’s one thing I’ve got on my side. I’m pretty lucky to have it and just try and use it to my advantage.

“We just wanted to stay in the game as long as we could. We know what cricket is like, the closer you get to the finish, the more nervous everyone gets and it is about who can keep their cool the longest.”
What a comeback win from the Phoenix. And what about Mousley. Some of the best yorker bowling you have seen in this competition’s history. And he is a spinner bowling from a short run, yet nailing those yorkers in the 70mph range. Phew! The Rockets looked certain to win but the last 15 balls turned it all around on its head. From nowhere Phoenix have won an unwinnable game. The reactions at the end from Mousley when he roared after bowling a dot said it all.
The Rockets were ahead when Hales and Root were there and then when Hain and Powell were there. And were ahead when Rashid Khan slammed Southee for four to leave them with 10 to get from 10 with 5 wickets in hand. But a sensational last 10 balls on the trot from Mousley saw them lose by 6. Fantastic from  Dan Mousley and the Phoenix. The Rockets will be gutted but they did the same in the last game over the Originals and now have got a taste of that tonight.

 

 

 


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