WEF VS BPH MATCH 12

Right then, that is all we have from this enticing contest. The action will continue on 14th August 2022. We have a Super Sunday coming your way as it's time for another double-header in the Men's Hundred Competition. In the first game, Northern Superchargers will be up against London Spirit and that game will start at 7 pm IST (1.30 pm GMT). The second game is between Oval Invincibles and Southern Brave and it is all set to start at 10.30 pm IST (5 pm GMT). Our build-up though for both games will begin in advance. So do join us then. For now, goodbye and take care!

Moeen Ali the skipper of Birmingham Phoenix is up for a chat. He says that these are the kind of games they want to play. He says that the pressure was on them and his boys performed brilliantly. Adds that sometimes they just have to play their game. Mentions that Kane Richardson and Tom Helm bowled brilliantly at the end and the key was to take the pace off as the batters were looking to finish the game and would play shots. Further says that to see the young guys coming through is really good and The Hundred is providing the opportunity to many such youngsters. He adds that they didn't bat well but these kinds of games will happen. States that they take one game at a time and he tells his boys not to get carried away. Mentions that as a captain he tries to be calm and composed all the time. He ends by saying that he actually doesn't like to win the toss as he doesn't want to choose what to do at the start of the game.

Kane Richardson is the Player of the Match for his outstanding performance with the ball. He says that he cannot believe that they won the game. Credits Tom Helm and Benny Howell for their efforts. Says the benefit of batting first is that the opposition tells them what they did well and then they try to execute. Adds that they got wickets early on in the innings, which helped them to build pressure. Mentions that everyone is really happy after this win. Ends by saying that they did not play that well, but he feels nice to defend such a low total.

Time for the presentation...

Earlier, the victors had a dismal performance with the bat. They got just 130 runs on the board with Matthew Wade and Benny Howell being the key contributors. David Payne and George Scrimshaw were the pick of the bowlers for Welsh Fire as they took two wickets each. This was a perfect opportunity for Welsh Fire to register their first win in this tournament but the batters undid all the good work done by the bowlers with a very disappointing batting show.

Birmingham Phoenix started the defense of their total with intent. Kane Richardson looked lethal taking a wicket and conceding no runs in his first five balls. They probably missed a trick by not continuing him for another five balls as he looked in a great rhythm. Tom Helm was a bit too expensive and allowed the release of pressure. Benny Howell was outstanding in the middle overs conceding just 12 runs in his 20 balls and picking up a wicket. Kane Richardson came back to pick up the wicket of Tom Banton and ended with 2 wickets but conceded just 15 runs in his full quota of 20 balls. At the time-out, Welsh Fire needed 46 runs from the last 30 balls. Liam Livingstone conceded 14 runs in the next 5 balls, the same amount of runs he had conceded in his 15 balls prior to that. It was the last ten balls from Kane Richardson and Tom Helm that won the game for Birmingham Phoenix.

Welsh Fire had the worst possible start to the game. They lost Joe Clarke early and the first five balls yielded zero runs. All of a sudden the small target seemed quite a distance away. Sam Hain came to the wicket and played a short counter-attacking cameo. Tom Banton was the only player in the top order, who seemed to be untroubled going about his business. However, he was dismissed 6 runs short of his half-century but had got Welsh Fire to a position from where they could win it. David Miller was still at the wicket and most people would have bet on Welsh Fire sealing this win. That was not the case as they just could not get the ball away in the last 10 balls and fell short of the target.

What a game we have witnessed and Welsh Fire have made an absolute meal of what should have been a comfortable chase! Birmingham Phoenix fought really hard and restricted their opponents with some disciplined death bowling. They have sealed an impressive 4-run win in a game where they looked down and out.

FOUR! A boundary on the last ball for Welsh Fire but it does not matter! Slightly short, width on offer this time. Dwaine Pretorius slashes it past point for a boundary. Birmingham Phoenix win by 4 runs!

A slower one, outside off, a length ball. David Miller pushes it towards deep cover and takes a single.

Outside off, a length ball. David Miller slashes it towards deep cover. He denies a single there! David Miller wants to keep strike for the next ball.

Bye! Another slower one, on a length, around middle. Dwaine Pretorius swings his bat at it but he misses. The batters run across to sneak in a bye! Matthew Wade has a shy at the striker's end but he misses.

OUT! TAKEN! Tom Helm gets the wicket of the skipper! A perfect start to the final set for Birmingham Phoenix. A fuller one, slower ball, around middle. Josh Cobb lifts this one towards long off. He has not timed this as well, and Chris Benjamin runs to his right and takes a good catch. 11 off 4 needed!

Tom Helm will bowl the final set of 5 balls!

On a length and on middle, David Miller this time pulls it through square leg for a single. 11 runs needed in 5 balls.

Richardson using his experience well here. This is again on a length and on off, slower too, David Miller swings his bat at it but cannot connect.

Another brilliant slower one. This is on a hard length and around off, David Miller is through his pull early and gets beaten all ends up. This is going down to the wire.