AI Simulation, TR vs BP | Lockie Ferguson and Tom Banton star as Rockets maintain all-win home record

08/26/2025

As per Artificial Intelligence, Trent Rockets will beat Birmingham Phoenix by nine runs in their final group game in Nottingham. Tom Banton and Lockie Ferguson will shine with bat and ball, respectively, as the Rockets will finish unbeaten at home, winning all matches here in the current campaign.

‌Pitch & Weather

The pitch was flat, dry and perfect for batting early on in the game, though the cracks slightly opened up and spinners got some turn in the second half of the contest.

A cold, cloudy evening welcomed both teams to the venue in Nottingham, with temperatures hovering around 13°C.

Toss & Conditions

Trent Rockets won the toss and elected to bat first.

Lineups

Trent Rockets: Joe Root, Tom Banton, Rehan Ahmed, Max Holden, Tom Moores (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Sam Hain, David Willey (c), George Linde, Sam Cook, Lockie Ferguson.

Birmingham Phoenix: Will Smeed, Ben Duckett, Joe Clarke (wk), Liam Livingstone (c), Jacob Bethell, Dan Mousley, Liam Patterson-White, Benny Howell, Chris Wood, Adam Milne, Trent Boult.

Match Report

In a thrilling, high-stakes encounter at Trent Bridge, Trent Rockets edged out Birmingham Phoenix by nine runs, thanks to a masterclass in death bowling from pacer Lockie Ferguson after Tom Banton’s fireworks helped the home side to a competitive total. The win helped the Rockets to end their home campaign with a 100% record but the narrow margin of victory meant that they finished second to Oval Invincibles on Net Run Rate, and a direct entry to the summit clash was denied.

After opting to bat on a batting-friendly surface, Trent Rockets got off to a cracking start. Banton looked in sublime touch, slashing through cover and pulling left-arm pacer Trent Boult for a maximum in the powerplay. Banton smashed six fours and two sixes to top-score for the side with 48 off just 29 balls. Meanwhile, Joe Root (33) played the perfect second fiddle as he rotated strike effortlessly and anchored the innings with poise. Though Phoenix managed to pull things back after the halfway mark, with tidy spells from Chris Wood and skipper Liam Livingstone, a late cameo from wicketkeeper-batter Tom Moores (25 off 12 balls) ensured the Rockets posted a competitive 167/6. Left-arm pacer Wood finished with figures of 2/22 in his 20-ball spell, while medium pacer picked up 2/27 in 20 balls.

Phoenix’s chase went on the right track despite losing England international Ben Duckett cheaply. Will Smeed and Joe Clarke attacked early, taking Ferguson and captain David Willey for boundaries. After Smeed’s departure, Livingstone and Clarke (39) stitched a crucial 56-run partnership that kept the Phoenix on track at 120/3 after 75 balls with 48 more runs required from the last 25 balls. But the game turned dramatically as the Kiwi pacer returned to dismiss Clarke and Livingstone with express pace and pinpoint yorkers. The Phoenix captain hit three sixes and fours during his knock of 41 from 25 balls but once he left the scene, the writing was on the wall for the visitors. Leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed followed up Ferguson’s double-wicket spell with a flurry of dot balls, while Willey’s variations at the death proved too much for the lower order. The Phoenix innings finally ended at 158/9, with Ferguson’s impressive figures reading 3/20 in 20 balls, while Ahmed and Willey ended with two-wicket hauls.

Player of the Match

Lockie Ferguson was declared the Player of the Match for his spell of 3/20 that restricted the Phoenix’s chase, including the crucial wickets of Clarke and Livingstone.

Scorecard

AI Simulation, The Hundred | Trent Rockets remain unbeaten at home with nine-run win over Birmingham Phoenix but fail to finish on top
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