The Hundred 2025Birmingham PhoenixCricket Match ReportsCricket NewsInternational LeagueInternational MatchesOval InvinciblesT20T20 Cricket NewsThe Hundred
Livingstone and Smeed Lead Birmingham Phoenix to First Win of the Season Against Oval Invincibles
Livingstone’s Power-Hitting Turns the Tables in Edgbaston Thriller
Birmingham Phoenix finally opened their account in The Hundred 2025 with a thrilling four-wicket victory over table-toppers Oval Invincibles at Edgbaston. Liam Livingstone’s explosive 69 not out off just 27 balls and Will Smeed’s brisk 51 off 29 deliveries overshadowed the brilliant knocks of Donovan Ferreira and Jordan Cox, guiding Phoenix to their first points of the campaign.
The match, filled with fireworks from both sides, saw Invincibles post the highest first-innings total of the season before Livingstone’s late onslaught turned the contest on its head.
Oval Invincibles Recover from Early Collapse
Ferreira and Cox Light Up the First Innings
The Oval Invincibles had a shaky start, losing both openers Will Jacks and Tawanda Muyeye within the first 15 deliveries for just 12 runs. However, Jordan Cox stepped up with a counter-attacking 44 off 30 balls, which included three fours and two sixes.
Sam Curran and Sam Billings couldn’t build on the momentum, but Donovan Ferreira revived the innings in style. Coming in at No. 6, Ferreira smashed 63 off 29 balls with four boundaries and six towering sixes.
The turning point came in the 95th ball when off-spinner Dan Mousley conceded 25 runs in a single set, pushing Invincibles from 146/6 to 171/6 in no time. Nine more runs from the final set took them to a formidable 180/8 in 100 balls — a total they believed would be enough to maintain their unbeaten streak.
(Related Reading: Full The Hundred 2025 Schedule and Results)
Phoenix Respond with Smeed and Clarke Partnership
Chasing a daunting 181, Phoenix lost Ben Duckett early, but Will Smeed joined forces with Joe Clarke to put together a 61-run second-wicket stand. Clarke’s quickfire 27 off 14 balls ensured Phoenix stayed ahead of the required rate.
Smeed was in sublime touch, blasting five fours and four sixes before being dismissed just past the halfway mark by Nathan Sowter. At this stage, Phoenix needed a leader — and Livingstone stepped into that role perfectly.
Livingstone Destroys Rashid Khan in Career-Worst Spell
The match’s defining moment came when Livingstone took on Rashid Khan, one of the world’s premier T20 bowlers. In a brutal display, Livingstone hammered the Afghan star for three sixes and two fours in a single set. Rashid ended with 0/59 in 20 balls — his most expensive figures in any T20 match.
With Mousley anchoring from the other end, Phoenix’s skipper and the young all-rounder stitched together a 67-run partnership off just 29 balls, reducing the target to 35 off 20.
Mahmood’s Double Strike Creates Late Drama
Sam Curran’s tight bowling briefly kept Invincibles in the hunt, conceding just 13 runs from his final 10 deliveries. However, Tom Curran’s penultimate set went for 19 runs as Livingstone cleared the ropes with ease.
With just three needed off the last five balls, Saqib Mahmood struck twice in two balls to set up the possibility of a dramatic finish. But Benny Howell ended the suspense, driving the hat-trick ball to the boundary to seal victory with two balls to spare.
Match Summary
Oval Invincibles: 180/8 in 100 balls (Donovan Ferreira 63, Jordan Cox 44; Trent Boult 2-20)
Birmingham Phoenix: 182/6 in 98 balls (Liam Livingstone 69*, Will Smeed 51; Saqib Mahmood 3-28)
Result: Birmingham Phoenix won by 4 wickets
For a complete overview of the competition and updated statistics, visit the official The Hundred website.
