The Hundred 2025Birmingham PhoenixCricket Match ReportsCricket NewsDomestic CricketDomestic leaguesDomestic MatchesInternational LeagueJoe ClarkeLiam LivingstoneLondon SpiritThe Hundred
Livingstone, Clarke Power Birmingham Phoenix to Dominant Win Over London Spirit
Birmingham Phoenix Register Convincing Victory
Birmingham Phoenix secured a commanding seven-wicket victory over London Spirit in The Hundred 2025 at Edgbaston, thanks to a superb all-round performance from captain Liam Livingstone and a blistering knock from Joe Clarke. Livingstone first dismantled London Spirit’s middle order with the ball before returning with the bat to finish the job in style, smashing five sixes in his unbeaten 45. Clarke set the tempo early in the chase with a fiery half-century that broke the back of the target.
With this win, Birmingham Phoenix not only boosted their points tally but also showcased their ability to dominate both with bat and ball. Read our match analysis on Birmingham Phoenix’s campaign here.
London Spirit’s Struggle With the Bat
Boult and Livingstone Lead the Bowling Effort
After opting to bowl first, Phoenix captain Livingstone found early success through Trent Boult, who struck with just the second ball of the innings to dismiss Jamie Smith for a duck. London Spirit’s batting found brief momentum as Kane Williamson struck three consecutive boundaries off Tim Southee in the PowerPlay, but the scoring rate remained sluggish.
David Warner, expected to provide aggression, never got into rhythm and ended up handing a soft dismissal to mid-off against Livingstone. That breakthrough derailed Spirit’s plans, and despite short contributions from Williamson (33 off 29), Ollie Pope (23 off 17), Ashton Turner (20 off 15), and Sean Dickson (16 off 15), there was no significant partnership.
Livingstone’s clever bowling changes kept the batters under pressure. He himself removed Pope, while Boult returned to castle Turner. London Spirit’s inability to find boundaries was telling, managing only two sixes across the innings. Their final score of 126/6 looked well below par against Phoenix’s strong batting order.
Clarke’s Explosive Start in the Chase
Rapid Fire PowerPlay
Chasing 127, Phoenix lost Will Smeed early to Luke Wood, but Joe Clarke walked in with a clear aggressive intent. Clarke unleashed a flurry of boundaries, smashing four in one set off Wood before continuing his assault on Dan Worrall and Richard Gleeson. A towering 94m six off Olly Stone capped off a dominant PowerPlay as Phoenix raced to 41/1.
Ben Duckett’s brief stay was ended by Liam Dawson, but Clarke ensured the momentum never dipped. He brought up his half-century in just 23 balls with a series of clean strikes, including 6-4-4 off Gleeson. Although he fell shortly after to Worrall for 54 off 25 balls, his knock had already sealed the momentum in Phoenix’s favor.
Livingstone Finishes the Job
Livingstone, who had earlier starred with the ball, took charge after Clarke’s dismissal. Jacob Bethell provided fireworks with two sixes off Worrall, before Livingstone shifted gears. He punished Olly Stone with one four and two massive sixes, then unleashed three consecutive sixes off Gleeson to complete the chase emphatically in just 65 balls.
The captain’s unbeaten 45 off 20 deliveries not only highlighted his leadership but also underlined his reputation as one of the most destructive players in the format.
Match Summary
Brief Scores:
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London Spirit: 126/6 in 100 balls (Kane Williamson 33, Ollie Pope 23; Liam Livingstone 2-26, Trent Boult 2-20)
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Birmingham Phoenix: 131/3 in 65 balls (Joe Clarke 54, Liam Livingstone 45*; Liam Dawson 1-8)
Result: Birmingham Phoenix won by 7 wickets.
Key Takeaways
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Liam Livingstone starred with both bat and ball, showcasing his all-round brilliance.
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Joe Clarke’s fiery half-century broke the Spirit’s resistance early in the chase.
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London Spirit’s lack of boundaries and slow batting cost them a competitive total.
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Birmingham Phoenix continue their push for the playoffs with a statement win.
For more insights on The Hundred tournament format and rules, check the official ECB page.
