London Spirit secured a convincing seven-wicket win over Birmingham Phoenix after Liam Livingstone and Dewald Brevis produced explosive half-centuries in their 2026 Men’s Hundred clash. Chasing 163 for victory, Spirit reached 166 for 3 in just 82 balls, completing the chase with 18 deliveries remaining.
Livingstone led the charge with a blistering 66 off 30 balls, hitting seven fours and four sixes. Brevis remained unbeaten on 55 from 31 deliveries, smashing five fours and three sixes. The victory marked Spirit’s second win of the season, while Phoenix remained at the bottom of the table with just one victory from seven matches.
Spirit began the chase positively, with Jonny Bairstow attacking the bowling from the outset. He struck a four and a six before Saqib Mahmood ended his stay at the crease. Luan-dre Pretorius then added 16 from 11 balls before being dismissed, bringing Livingstone and Brevis together.
Once the two settled in, the momentum shifted firmly in Spirit’s favour. Livingstone raced to his half-century in only 21 balls and launched a huge 104-metre six during his innings. The pair combined aggression with sensible batting, particularly against Usman Tariq, who bowled economically and conceded only 13 runs from his 20 deliveries.
The third-wicket partnership produced 103 runs from only 47 balls and effectively settled the contest. Livingstone eventually fell for 66 from 30 balls, but Spirit were already within touching distance of victory, requiring only 13 runs from 30 balls.
Brevis then completed the job himself, hitting Rehan Ahmed for two successive fours to seal a comfortable seven-wicket victory.
Earlier, Birmingham Phoenix had made 162 for 4 from their 100 balls after being asked to bat first. Their innings got off to a difficult start, with Mitchell Owen, Joe Weatherley and Laurie Evans all falling cheaply. Spirit’s spinners James Coles and Mason Crane kept the Phoenix batting lineup under pressure during the early stages.
Joe Clarke and Sean Dickson eventually changed the course of the innings with a 92-run stand from 47 balls. Clarke was particularly aggressive, scoring 73 from 42 deliveries with five sixes and four fours.
Henry Crocombe brought the partnership to an end by having Clarke caught by Livingstone. Dickson continued until the end, scoring an unbeaten 51 off 28 balls, including four fours and three sixes. Donovan Ferreira then added a late burst with a six and a four to push Phoenix beyond 160.
However, the 162-run target was never enough once Livingstone and Brevis launched their assault. Spirit’s chase was completed in 82 balls, giving them a comfortable victory and leaving Phoenix with only one win in seven games.
Brief scores: Birmingham Phoenix 162/4 in 100 balls (Joe Clarke 73 off 42, Sean Dickson 51* off 28; James Coles 1-25) lost to London Spirit 166/3 in 82 balls (Liam Livingstone 66 off 30, Dewald Brevis 55* off 31; Tom Helm 1-31) by 7 wickets.
