Liam Livingstone Blitz Powers Birmingham Phoenix to First Win in The Hundred

Birmingham Phoenix captain Liam Livingstone delivered a stunning match-winning performance to guide his side to a thrilling four-wicket victory over Oval Invincibles, handing the visitors their first defeat of the 2025 Men's Hundred season.

Chasing a challenging 181 for victory, Livingstone smashed an unbeaten 69 off just 27 balls, including five sixes, to steer Phoenix home with two balls to spare. His explosive knock turned the game on its head, especially during a dramatic over against star spinner Rashid Khan, where he plundered 26 runs with a sequence of 4, 6, 6, 6, 4.

Earlier, the Invincibles posted 180 for 8 after being asked to bat first. Despite a shaky start, with Will Jacks dismissed on the second ball of the innings and the team limping to 31 for 2 after the powerplay, South African powerhouse Donovan Ferreira lit up the innings with a blistering 63 off 29 balls. His fireworks, including a half-century off just 24 balls, and a late surge from Rashid Khan (16 off 7) helped lift the visitors to a competitive total.

Phoenix's reply began cautiously as Jason Behrendorff bowled the opening 10-ball set for just five runs. Saqib Mahmood struck early to remove Ben Duckett, but opener Will Smeed counter-attacked with a punchy 51 off 29 balls. After Smeed’s dismissal, the chase wobbled slightly with Jacob Bethell also departing cheaply.

However, Livingstone's arrival at the crease changed the tempo of the game. His fearless hitting, particularly off Rashid Khan, ignited the Phoenix innings, and a solid partnership with Dan Mousley brought the hosts within touching distance. Although Mahmood claimed two wickets in two balls in a late twist, Benny Howell struck the hat-trick ball through cover for four, sealing Phoenix’s first win of the campaign.

Livingstone was named the Meerkat Match Hero for his captain’s knock and praised his team’s resilience after a tough start to the tournament.

“We needed it, it's been a bit of a disappointing start to the tournament,” said Livingstone. “It’s nice to lead from the front and hopefully that gives the boys a bit of momentum and confidence. It was in the back of my mind to be there at the end — something I haven’t done a lot in my career. But we still needed to take some risks.”

The win lifts Birmingham Phoenix off the mark in the standings, while Oval Invincibles lose their unbeaten record in what was one of the most entertaining matches of the season so far.

Match Summary
Birmingham Phoenix: 182 for 6 (Livingstone 69*, Smeed 51, Mahmood 3-28)
Oval Invincibles: 180 for 8 (Ferreira 63, Cox 44)
Phoenix won by four wickets