Birmingham Phoenix and Trent Rockets brought much-needed excitement to this year's Hundred with a high-scoring thriller at Edgbaston. Phoenix posted 214-4, the second-highest total in the tournament's history, behind Oval Invincibles' 226-4 last year. The home side's flying start was led by Joe Clarke and Will Smeed, who added 104 from just 49 balls for the first wicket.
Clarke fell for 68 from 33 balls, but Rehan Ahmed and Donovan Ferreira ensured the brilliant start was not in vain, smashing 63 from just 22 balls for the third wicket. Ahmed clubbed five sixes in his 25-ball 48, while Ferreira added a valuable cameo off 22 not out from just nine deliveries.
In reply, Rockets made a positive start, with openers Finn Allen and Ben Duckett adding 65 in 29 balls. However, the chase started to drift when the pair fell for 43 and 49 respectively. Tom Banton kept Rockets' hopes alive with a 26-ball fifty, but seamer Scott Currie held his nerve at the death to remove him for 67 and secure the win.
The match also alleviated concerns about the quality of the pitch, which had raised eyebrows after Phoenix's women were bowled out for 64 earlier in the day.