Michael Bracewell stole the show in Southampton as his 3-wicket haul helped Southern Brave restrict Birmingham Phoenix to a low score before the batters aced the chase with ease. Michael Bracewell bowled really well utilizing the conditions on offer really well as his 3/10 in 15 balls alongside Jofra Archer’s 2/16 in 20 balls restricted Birmingham Phoenix to 106/7 in 100 balls.
In reply, openers Leus du Plooy and James Vince game Brave a head-start with a 75-run stand off 58 balls with du Plooy remaining unbeaten on 48 off 39 balls while captain James Vince made 41 off 30 balls. Jason Roy made an unbeaten 18 off 12 balls at Number 3 as the Brave got to the target in 81 balls winning by 9 wickets with 19 balls to spare.
Michael Bracewell & Jofra Archer star as Birmingham Phoenix are restricted to 106/7
Put into bat first, Will Smeed and Ben Duckett came out to open the batting for Birmingham Phoenix while Craig Overton had ball in hand for Brave. Overton bowled a decent first set and Jofra Archer got the ball to bowl the next set. Duckett hit him for back-to-back boundaries showing his prowess as an attacking batter. Will Smeed joined the party as he hit Overton for a boundary while Duckett also hit a boundary off Overton. Archer continued and delivered a decent set.
Duckett hit another boundary off Overton as Birmingham Phoenix reached 28/0 in 25 balls at the end of the powerplay. Chris Jordan came into the attack and struck for Brave getting rid of Duckett for 20 off 21 balls with 4 boundaries to his name. Jordan bowled a length delivery outside off from around the wicket, Duckett looked to defend but the ball moved away and bounced more than expected. Duckett ended up edging it to Laurie Evans who completed a simple catch. Jacob Bethell came out to bat at 3 and got off the mark.
Michael Bracewell came into the attack and got an immediate wicket as he got rid of Jacob Bethell for 1 off 2 balls. Bracewell bowled a length delivery sliding in, Bethell went deep and looked to work it through midwicket but he missed the ball as it went onto disturb the middle and leg stump. It was a straight delivery that he missed. Joe Clarke came out to bat next and got off the mark as well. Bracewell had another in the set as he got rid of Will Smeed for 13 off 11 balls with a boundary to his name.
Bracewell bowled a full delivery fired wide of off-stump, Smeed attempted to cut but got a bottom edge which was taken brilliantly by Laurie Evans behind the stumps. Captain Liam Livingstone came out to bat next. James Coles came into the attack and was hit for a boundary by Livingstone. Craig Overton bowled a decent set while Tymal Mills was introduced into the attack. The 50 came up for Birmingham in 47 balls. At the halfway stage of the innings, Birmingham Phoenix were 51/3 in 50 balls.
Michael Bracewell bowled a tight set. James Coles also kept things tight. Finally, Joe Clarke broke the shackles as he hit Chris Jordan for hat-trick of boundaries to give some momentum into the innings. Soon, Jofra Archer came back into the attack and struck for his side getting rid of captain Liam Livingstone for 12 off 19 balls with a boundary to his name.
Archer delivered a back of the hand slower ball outside off into the pitch, Livingstone tried to pick it up and heave across the line. He swung hard but didn’t have the pace to work with as he hit it straight down the throat of Coles. Dan Mousley came to the crease next. He did not last long and fell for 2 off 3 to Michael Bracewell. Bracewell flighted it up on a length outside off, pitching and spinning away. Mousley was beaten on the flight as he was drawn down the track. He failed to get to the pitch of the ball and missed the flick on the outside edge as the ball dipped and spun away sharply. Evans did the rest. Aneurin Donald came out to bat next.
After 75 balls, Birmingham Phoenix were 78/5 and in a spot of bother. James Coles got another wicket as Donald departed for 2 off 3 balls. Coles fired in a full ball down the leg side following the batter backing away from room. Donald was down on one knee going for the slog. It was a wild swing of the bat and missed the stroke on the inside edge. The ball hit his back leg before deflecting onto the stumps. Benny Howell came to the crease next and got off the mark.
After a few quiet sets, Clarke broke the shackles by hitting a boundary off Tymal Mills. Archer came back for his final set and got rid of Joe Clarke for 36 off 27 balls with 4 boundaries to his name. Archer bowled a back of the hand full slower ball outside off, Clarke cleared his front leg and threw his kitchen sink at it. He lost his shape as there is no pace to work with. The bottom hand came off the bat as he sliced it in the extra cover region. Jason Roy moved backwards to complete the catch at the edge of the ring. Adam Milne came out to bat next.
Milne hit Jordan for a boundary as the 100 came up for Birmingham in 97 balls. Runs came in 1s and 2s off the final few balls as Birmingham Phoenix ended with 106/7 in 100 balls. Benny Howell was unbeaten on 9 off 11 balls while Adam Milne was unbeaten on 6 off 3 balls with a boundary to his name. 5 extras given by the fielding side.
Michael Bracewell was the pick of the bowlers for Southern Brave with figures of 3/10 in 15 balls. He was ably supported by Jofra Archer who finished with 2/16 in 20 balls. Chris Jordan finished with 1/27 in 15 balls while James Coles bowled well for his 20 balls finishing with 1/17. Craig Overton bowled decently for his 0/22 in 20 balls while Tymal Mills gave away 12 runs in 10 balls for 0 wickets. It meant that the target for Southern Brave was 107 runs off 100 balls to win the contest.
Leus du Plooy, James Vince leads Southern Brave to an emphatic win
Chasing 107 for the win, Leus du Plooy and James Vince walked out to bat for Southern Brave while Trent Boult had ball in his hand. Boult bowled a decent first set while Tim Southee shared the new ball from the other end. Southee appealed for LBW but the umpire wasn’t interested and the fielding team burnt a review as well. du Plooy got into the act as he hit Southee for back-to-back boundaries. Boult bowled decently before Vince joined in the party by hitting a boundary off Boult.
Adam Milne came into the attack next and bowled a decent set. Du Plooy hit another boundary off Southee to end the powerplay as Southern Brave reached 28/0 in 25 balls. Benny Howell came into the attack post the powerplay. Howell bowled a decent set as Liam Livingstone brought himself into the attack. James Vince got 3 runs and completed 1000 runs in Men’s Hundred history. Howell also bowled decently as well giving away 3 runs.
James Vince was put down by Dan Mousley at deep backward square leg as this was a massive moment in the game. Vince decided to make Birmingham pay by hitting consecutive boundaries of Trent Boult. After 50 balls at the halfway stage of the chase, Southern Brave were 60/0. Leus du Plooy also switched gears as he smashed Livingstone for the maximum. James Vince pulled Benny Howell for a boundary through midwicket. Howell hit back though getting rid of Vince for 41 off 30 balls with four boundaries to his name.
Howell bowled a length delivery outside off, Vince made room and looked to cut it but got a bottom edge which is pouched superbly by Joe Clarke. Jason Roy came to the crease next. Howell bowled another tight set but there was no pressure as such on the batting side. Du Plooy then smashed a full delivery from Southee down the ground to long-off for a boundary while Jason Roy hit a majestic boundary off Southee once again.
Jacob Bethell was introduced into the attack and was dispatched by Roy for a boundary. Soon, Roy hit another boundary off Milne as the 100 came up for Southern Brave in 77 balls. Runs came in singles and doubles as they inched towards the target. Leus du Plooy hit the winning runs as he smashed Southee by pulling past mid-on for a boundary as the Brave made it 2 wins out of 2 winning by 9 wickets with 19 balls left. Du Plooy remained unbeaten on 48 off 39 balls with 5 fours and a six to his name while Jason Roy remained unbeaten on 18 off 12 balls with 3 boundaries to his name. 2 extras given by the fielding side.
Just one wicket fell and that went to Benny Howell who finished with 1/17 in 20 balls. The rest of the bowlers went for runs and did not pick up a wicket. For his brilliant bowling performance, Michael Bracewell was adjudged the Player of the Match. Southern Brave with this win are in 3rd place with 8 points while Birmingham Phoenix have lost both their games and are in 7th place at this stage. Work to do for them going forward.
What Lies Ahead.
Just one game in the Hundred 2025 as the weekdays approach us. It is going to be Manchester Originals hosting London Spirit live from Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester at 11PM IST. Manchester needs a win desperately while Spirit got a win in their previous game.
So, all to play for as games come thick and fast in Hundred 2025. Loads of action to follow for all of us in the coming days.
Also Read: Hundred 2025: Rashid Khan’s 3-Wicket Haul Seals An Emphatic Win For Oval Invincibles