Birmingham Phoenix vs Southern Brave Match 13 Full Commentary

Live · Jul 30 2026, Thu - 11:00 PM (IST)

Match 13, - Utilita Bowl

BPH

20/0 (2.3)

SOB

128/8 (20.0)

Birmingham Phoenix need 109 runs in 87 balls at 1.25 rpb

CRR:7.69 | RR: 6.26

0.0

We are back. Chris Jordan leads his men through the smoke before they gather in a huddle, with the skipper delivering a few final words before they take the field. Will Smeed and Joe Clarke are the two openers for Birmingham Phoenix. Luke Wood will start with the new ball. Clarke to face the first ball. Here we go!
0.0

... THE RUN CHASE ...
0.0

Advantage Phoenix - Coming into this game, the Utilita Bowl had been the toughest batting venue in the men's competition this season, with an average first-innings score of 132, the lowest among all venues. Southern Brave have finished below even that mark. Birmingham Phoenix will look to make the most of the Powerplay when the hard new ball is easier to score off before it softens. They will ideally want to break the back of the chase inside the first 25 balls. Brave, meanwhile, will be hunting for early wickets and hope to build from there to make a contest of it. Stay tuned as the chase is coming up shortly.
0.0

Let's hear from Ben Dwarshuis - Dwarshuis says they held them off to a pretty average total and details that there was some hold on the surface as the ball grew older. On their bowling discipline, he explains the focus was on controlling one or two deliveries within each set. When asked about Donovan Ferreira's captaincy and his proactivity in the field, he speaks highly of his work in the field, adding it's been good to see him set the tone for the side. On the chase ahead, he leaves the finer calculations to the batters, but notes it's a ground where they need to be positive throughout. He hopes that a quick start can bring the asking rate down and ease things from there.
0.0

An innings that never took off - It was evident early on that there was not much pace in the surface. After the pacers did a good job in the Powerplay, Rehan Ahmed and Usman Tariq ensured there was no let-up through the middle phase, with Rehan starring with a three-wicket haul. Marcus Stoinis threatened to shift gears but fell just as he looked set to accelerate. From there, no one could provide the finish Southern Brave were looking for. 4 batters got starts but lacked the fluency to kick on, with none going on to make a substantial contribution.
0.0

Brave kept in check - A job well done by Birmingham Phoenix. Donovan Ferreira rotated his bowlers effectively, and they did not disappoint. The attack operated as a unit and rarely allowed the batters to break free.
19.5

SOUTHERN BRAVE FINISH AT 128/8! Cannons in a full ball, on middle. Luke Wood clears the front leg away and drags it through mid-wicket for a single. 9 runs off the final set of five, but the visitors will be quite happy with their bowling and fielding efforts.
19.4

SIX! Finally, something for the home crowd to cheer! Back of a length, around the off pole. Luke Wood picks the length early and hammers it over the deep mid-wicket region for a massive six.
19.3

Takes pace off again, does Scott. Digs it into the surface, short on the leg stump. Saif Zaib looks to pull but gets a top edge and the ball rolls to the deep fine leg region for a single.
19.2

Full and on middle, heaved wide of long on for a single.
19.1

A dipping full toss, on the stumps. Wood bunts it back to the bower.
0.0

Scott Currie to close out the innings.
18.5

A slower one by the looks of it, outside off on a good length. Luke stays leg side and shanks it to the right of the long off fielder for a couple of runs.
18.4

Slower bumper, at the shoulder height. Saif Zaib pulls it off the gloves to deep fine leg for a single.
0.0

Another wicket falls. Luke Wood comes in next, but it will be Saif Zaib on strike.
18.3

OUT! JOFRA ARCHER IS RUN OUT! Bullet arm from Donovan Ferreira. He took a brilliant catch earlier and now hits the bullseye. This is bashed hard on a length, on off. Jofra Archer punches it off the back foot to the cover region and sets off for a quick single. But Donovan Ferreira is quick to swoop across. Picks the ball and aims at the bowling end, scoring a direct hit with his right hand. He almost takes out Dwarshuis, but the bowler just sways away from the projectile as it crashes into the stumps with Jofra nowhere to be seen. Southern Brave are 116/8, falling apart.
18.2

Beaten! Slanted across the batter, on a good length. Jofra Archer stays put, trying to access the off side, but gets beaten as the ball zips past the outside edge.
0.0

Brave's chances of a strong finish take a hit. Jofra Archer comes out to the middle.
18.1

OUT! CAUGHT! In the quest for quick runs, Miller falls. Dwarshuis slams the deck very hard, short and outside off. David Miller stands tall and looks to pull it across the line, but only manages a fat top edge. The ball climbs up the chimney and goes in the short third region. Saqib Mahmood settles under it and takes it easily without much fuss. Southern Brave are 116/7, with 9 legal balls left.
17.5

Angled outside off, on a hard length. Miller slaps it to deep cover-point for a single.
17.4

Good work in the deep by Dwarshuis. A slower bumper by Scott, at the body. David Miller swivels and pulls it between deep mid-wicket and deep square leg. Ben Dwarshuis from deep square leg sprints and dives to save two runs for his team.
17.3

Short of a good length, and this is tucked behind square on the leg side for a single.
0.0

Saif Zaib is the new man in.
17.2

OUT! STRAIGHT TO THE FIELDER! The Brave keep losing wickets one after the other. Currie hammers it on a good length, on middle and leg. Chris Jordan is hurried on the pull shot but hits it flat towards deep backward square leg. Laurie Evans is alert there and snaffles it. Southern Brave are 112/6, with 13 legal balls left in the first innings.
17.1

Spears in the blockhole, on leg. David Miller clears the front leg and flicks it hard to deep mid-wicket for a single.
0.0

Scott Currie returns.
16.6

At pace now, on leg, on a length. Jordan gets a bit across and tucks it wide of mid-wicket for a single.
16.5

WIDE! The slower short ball, but it goes all wrong for Dwarshuis. It flies over the batter's head, outside off. Let through by Jordan. Wide called for height.
16.4

Another off-pace ball, on a length, wide on off. Miller generates his power to smash it through cover for a single only.
16.3

Pace off, short on middle and leg. Jordan pulls it off the back foot to deep backward square leg for another single.

2.3

Good-length delivery at the pads. Joe steers it through square leg for a single.
2.2

At a gentle pace, on a length, around leg. Joe Clarke backs away a bit and knocks it to the mid on fielder.
2.1

Starts with a fuller delivery, on off, 77 mph. Joe forces it back to the bowler.
0.0

Marcus Stoinis will begin from the other end.
1.5

Extra bounce on a good length, angled into the body. Smeed hops off to fend it across but plays over it and is struck around the midriff.
1.4

Nearly dragged on! On a back of a length, around off. Smeed stays back and tries to block off the back foot, but gets an inside edge. The ball bounces past the leg stump and rolls to short fine leg.
1.3

Short of a good length, outside off. Clarke rides the bounce and works it to deep point for a single.
1.2

FOUR! Just beats Abell! Skiddy delivery, on a good length, outside off, nipping away. Clarke lets the ball arrive, opens the bat face at the point of contact and guides it to deep third. Tom Abell hares across to his left and puts in a slide but in vain.
1.1

Hits the hard length, on top of the stumps. Clarke stands up and stabs it down the pitch.
0.0

Jofra Archer will steam in now.
0.7

Back of a length, outside off. Smeed knocks it to deep point for a single. A very eventful opening set.

0.6

Hard length, around off. Smeed hangs back and steers it to sweeper cover for a couple of runs.
0.5

FOUR! Crashed into the gap! Full and wide outside off. Smeed transfers the weight on the front foot and creams it through the covers for a cracking boundary.
0.4

WIDE! A bit too wayward, down leg, full in length. Smeed misses out to flick.
0.3

FOUR! Edged, but safe! Full and outside off, angled away from the batter. Smeed is drawn forward and tries to work it through cover but gets a massive outside edge. The ball rifles to the left of the short third fielder and before he could move a muscle, it races to the fence.
0.2

WIDE! Full but way down leg, Smeed misses the flick.
0.1

In the air... lands safely! Wood pins it on a good length and generates extra lift on the leg stump. Joe Clarke hops on the toes to deal with the bounce and fend it to the leg side but gets a thick leading edge. But luckily for him, the ball lands between the short third and backward point fielders. A single taken.