AI, Simulation, BP vs LS | Liam Livingstone's match-winning knock helps Phoenix in dramatoc chase at Edgbaston

08/17/2025

As per ChatGPT, Birmingham Phoenix will keep their winning streak against London Spirit alive with a six-wicket win at Edgbaston on August 17. Liam Livingstone leads from the front with an unbeaten knock as Phoenix chases down the target with five balls to spare during the dramatic chase.

‌Pitch and Weather

The surface at Edgbaston seemed like a solid wicket, which looked ideal for chasing. While the pacers enjoyed some early seam movement with the new ball and spinners got bit of grip, the pitch flattened out in the second innings.

The weather in Birmingham was nice and breezy with the sun shining bright at a temperature of 23 degrees Celsius.

Toss

London Spirit won the toss and chose to bat first

Lineups

Birmingham Phoenix: Ben Duckett, Will Smeed, Joe Clarke (wk), Liam Livingstone (c), Jacob Bethell, Aneurin Donald, Benny Howell, Chris Wood, Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Trent Boult.

London Spirit: David Warner, Kane Williamson (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Ollie Pope, Ashton Turner, Sean Dickson, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Luke Wood, Richard Gleeson, Daniel Worrall.

Match Report

London Spirit won the toss and decided to bat first, and started well with Williamson coming back to open the batting with David Warner. The visitors started well with Warner taking on the bowlers and Williamson rotating the strike at the other end. It was a great start for the London franchise as they finished the power play on a score of 48/0 after 25 balls. The veteran batters continued the run-flow after the initial stage of the game until the Spirit skipper was dismissed by a well-directed bouncer by Adam Milne, as he gave a simple catch to square leg. However, the wicket did not cause a lot of damage as Warner continued his wrath on the Birmingham Phoenix bowlers. With Warner still going strong the spirit scored another 40 runs of the next 25 balls with the score reading 88/1 after 50 balls. As the runs were starting to flow from both ends, with Jamie Smith also finding his feet after a cautious start, he was caught by surprise with a sharp leg spinner by Phoenix captain Liam Livingstone, which he missed completely, and saw the ball crashing into his stumps. Despite the surprising dismissal, the London franchise was still in a strong position at 124/2 after 75 balls. It seemed like the Spirit will finish on a strong total until the pace duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee kept things tight at the backend. Boult got the prize wicket of Warner after his incredible knock of 52 off 33 deliveries, while Southee dismissed Ashton Turner in the next over. While there was still some resistance from Ollie Pope, he was dismissed by Southee on the 85th ball after a nicely composed innings of 34 off 20 deliveries. The wickets continued to tumble as Boult returned for a final over to get the wicket of Sean Dickson. With only 38 runs in the last 25 balls and losing four wickets in the process, the Spirit innings ended on 162/6.

The conditions had gotten better for the batters it was important for Phoenix to start their innings well in order to chase down the total. This is where the duo of Will Smeed and Ben Duckett took the attack to the bowlers and finished the powerplay on a score of 44/0. The opening partnership ended straight after the first 25 balls with Richard Gleeson dismissing Duckell as the left-handed batter edged the ball to the keeper. Despite the great start, the Phoenix were in a spot of bother once again as Smeed was dismissed by Jamie Overton in the following over as well. As the scoring rate took a bit of a hit, Spirit were back in the game with the score at 70/2 after 50 balls. Though the hosts seemed in serious trouble, Liam Livingstone and Joe Clarke made sure they formed an important partnership to keep the game alive. The duo put on 52 runs in the next 25 deliveries taking the score to 122/2 after 75 balls, and needed 41 runs in the final 25 deliveries. With Livingstone and Clarke at the crease, the home team still had a strong chance of winning the game sadly there was another twist as Richard Gleeson knocked over Clarke for 29 in his final over. However, this turned out to be a minor blip as the Phoenix skipper continued to score crucial runs in the middle and was supported well by Jacob Bethell at the other end. The equation was down to 11 runs of the last 10 deliveries. Though Bethell was eventually dismissed by Luke Wood in the penultimate over after his nine-ball 14-run cameo, Livingstone made sure he finished the game in the next four deliveries to ensure a six-wicket win with four balls to spare.