Liam Livingstone blasts Birmingham Phoenix into men’s Hundred final as Northern Superchargers brushed aside

Birmingham Phoenix have clinched their place in the final of the inaugural men’s Hundred after Liam Livingstone’s incredible exploits in a crushing eight-wicket win over the Northern Superchargers.

Livingstone smashed 10 sixes en route to an unbeaten 92 from just 40 deliveries at Headingley on Tuesday evening, including the fastest half-century of the tournament so far (20 balls).

The England all-rounder had earlier took three wickets for 25 runs on a memorable night as Birmingham sealed a spot in Saturday’s showpiece at Lord’s with 26 balls to spare after easily chasing down a modest target of 144, set after the hosts had lost eight wickets for 48 in 46 deliveries.

The Phoenix top the group stage with six wins and face either Southern Brave or Trent Rockets in the final.

The Superchargers' 143 for eight was a curious innings. After being put in to bat, they raced to 65 without loss in the 25-ball powerplay before subsiding.

New Zealand quick Adam Milne struck twice late on, but it was really pace off which did the trick as Livingstone, two-wicket medium pacer Benny Howell and wicketless Imran Tahir were all miserly.

They shackled a Superchargers side playing only for pride.

Things had looked good for the hosts early on.

Australian Chris Lynn viciously sliced a flat six over point off Milne, while Tom Kohler-Cadmore hit three sixes and two fours in Pat Brown's set of five between the 20th and 25th balls.

He reached 50 off 24 before falling run out off the last ball of the innings for 71.

Livingstone sparked the Phoenix revival by getting Lynn for 34 and opposing skipper David Willey in a 10-ball set - 103 for two after 59.

He later added the scalp of his Lancashire captain Dane Vilas.

Willey bowled Will Smeed for a duck four balls into the Phoenix chase.

But it mattered not as Livingstone once again lit up the ground on which he famously cleared the Emerald Stand whilst batting for England in a T20 international against Pakistan last month.

Typically leg-side dominant, Livingstone took full toll on seam and spin. By the time he reached his half-century, including seven sixes, Phoenix were 74 for one after 35.

And they were not about to repeat the earlier collapse of their opponents.

Livingstone shared a second-wicket partnership of 106 with New Zealand opener Finn Allen, whose 42 off 26 was dwarfed by his skipper.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.

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