LIAM Livingstone starred with bat and ball to inject new life into Birmingham Phoenix’s Hundred campaign.
Phoenix needed just 65 ballls to earn a seven-wicket victory against London Spirit at Edgbaston.
Starting the day at the foot of the table, the Phoenix knew defeat would effectively end their hopes of progressing and they played with urgency of a team fighting to stay alive.
The result means Phoenix are in a four-way tie on eight points, with three teams above them on 12.
Livingstone began his influential display by taking two wickets as David Warner and Ollie Pope fell to the Phoenix captain.
Spirit struggled to 126 for six – with Kane Williamson top scoring, making 33.
In reply, Joe Clarke took the fight to London with nine fours and two sixes.
That left Livingstone and Jacob Bethell to put together an unbeaten partnership of 63 in just 25 balls.
Livingstone hit five sixes to leapfrog Jos Buttler at the top of this year’s men’s run-scoring chart.
It meant Phoenix coasted home to bely their early poor form.
Livingstone, who was named the Meerkat Match Hero, told ESPN Cricinfo: “We needed a win, but we had some confidence coming in to this one having played really well last game here at Edgbaston.
“The crowd are amazing, they get behind us every time we go out and play, so it’s always nice to put on a show for them.
“Our seam bowlers were phenomenal. I don’t think they missed a single yorker at the end, and then we managed to see it home with the bat. Sometimes it can be quite difficult going in after an early wicket and getting the tempo right, but Joe [Clarke] was brilliant.
“We brought him in through the draft to do that role, to take bowlers on at No. 3 and give us some momentum, so he’s been fantastic, and he broke the chase for us.
“Back-to-back wins now. We know we’re up against it, all we can do is win our remaining games and see where we are.”
Clarke told Sky Sports: “We needed that kind of display. That’s two on the bounce at home which is nice. And I think that will help our run rate. Some momentum going into Friday, so hopefully we can carry that on.
“Obviously we had a disappointing Friday night at Headingley.
“But, honestly, the crowd here is unbelievable so it was nice to put on a show for them and win some games.
“I usually open the batting, in a selfish way it’s nice to face as many balls as you can in the powerplay. I wanted to be aggressive and put a dent in the chase. Thankfully it came off
“It’s always really a good wicket here at Edgbaston. You always get a small side and we have power hitters in our team like Liam Livingstone and Jacob Bethell. I think we’ve got an unbelievable power hitting side. Very entertaining.”
