Phoenix's Dominant Win Over Superchargers Bolsters Playoff Hopes

Birmingham Phoenix 84 for 0 (Duckett 43, Moeen 37) defeated Northern Superchargers 83 (Southee 3-15, Milne 3-20) by 10 wickets

Birmingham Phoenix took a significant step towards securing a top-three spot with an impressive victory against Northern Superchargers in The Hundred at Edgbaston on Tuesday.

Phoenix's bowlers dismantled the visitors for just 83 runs before achieving the fastest chase in The Hundred men's competition history, led by Ben Duckett and Moeen Ali.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Northern Superchargers' excitement over England Men's Test captain Ben Stokes' return quickly turned sour. Stokes was dismissed for a first-ball duck by Tim Southee, after waiting 20 deliveries at the non-striker's end.

Birmingham's pace duo set the tone for the match. Southee struck with his first ball, removing Matt Short, while Adam Milne dismissed the dangerous Nicholas Pooran. Captain Harry Brook and Adam Hose tried to rebuild from 19 for 3, but even Brook struggled, falling to Chris Wood at 36 for 4 halfway through the innings.

A brilliant run-out by Duckett ended Hose's stay at the crease 10 balls later. Southee finished with exceptional figures of 3 for 15, and Milne with 3 for 20, as the Superchargers were bowled out for 83—the second-lowest total in the Men's Hundred competition.

Duckett, continuing his fine form, quickly scored 43 off 20 balls, while Moeen added a rapid 37 off 21 balls. Their unbeaten partnership secured a 10-wicket victory for Phoenix, significantly damaging Northern Superchargers' chances of reaching The Hundred Eliminator. Phoenix's win moved them to third place in the standings after five matches.

Meerkat Match Hero Tim Southee commented on the performance, saying, "We assessed the conditions quickly, and our seamers found a good length that was difficult to play. It was a clinical performance all around. This team is great to be part of, and I'm enjoying my time here. A win like this boosts our confidence for the upcoming games, but we know we have to start fresh against new opposition. There are no easy teams in this tournament, so we expect more challenging matches ahead."