WATCH: Trent Boult delivers a trademark in-swinger to shatter Jamie Smith’s stumps in The Hundred 2025

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Birmingham Phoenix delivered a dominant performance to defeat London Spirit by seven wickets in the 18th match of the Hundred. After winning the toss and electing to field, Phoenix’s bowlers, led by the brilliant Trent Boult and Liam Livingstone, restricted Spirit to a modest 126/6. In response, Phoenix’s batters made short work of the chase, with Joe Clarke and Liam Livingstone leading the charge to reach the target with a remarkable 35 balls to spare. This comprehensive victory, highlighted by Livingstone’s all-round heroics, firmly puts the Phoenix back in contention, while the Spirit will need to regroup quickly after a disappointing outing.

Boult continued his reputation as one of the most lethal T20 bowlers in the world with yet another first-over strike, this time to dismiss the Spirit’s opener, Jamie Smith. With only the third ball of the match, Boult delivered a signature in-swinger that jagged viciously off the pitch and zeroed in on the stumps. Smith, attempting an expansive drive, was completely beaten by the pace and movement, leaving him rooted to the crease and helpless as the ball rattled his stumps.

The delivery was a perfect yorker, proving once again why Boult is a nightmare for top-order batters. This early breakthrough set the tone for the entire match, as it not only sent Smith back to the pavilion for a two-ball duck but also triggered a top-order collapse for the Spirit, who never truly recovered from the early blow. Boult’s exceptional line and length, coupled with his ability to swing the ball at high speed, completely outfoxed Smith and provided the Phoenix with the perfect start.

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The Phoenix put on a masterclass of a team performance, first with the ball and then with the bat. After Boult’s opening wicket, the bowlers maintained consistent pressure on the Spirit batters. Livingstone was particularly effective, claiming 2/26 from his 20 balls and breaking key partnerships. Only Kane Williamson, with a resilient 33, and Ollie Pope, with a quickfire 23, showed some resistance for the Spirit, but their efforts were not enough to post a challenging total.

In the second innings, the Phoenix batters came out with a clear plan to attack from the get-go. After a slight hiccup with the early dismissal of Will Smeed, Clarke took control of the chase. He launched a spectacular assault on the Spirit bowlers, racing to a fifty in just 23 balls, a brilliant innings filled with nine fours and two sixes. Once Clarke fell, it was the turn of captain Livingstone to take center stage. He continued the momentum, hammering a blistering 45 not out from just 20 balls, including five towering sixes, to put an end to any hopes the Spirit had of a comeback. Livingstone’s explosive hitting, supported by Bethell’s unbeaten 18, ensured the Phoenix comfortably cruised to victory with 35 balls to spare.