David Wiese and Adam Lyth star as Northern Superchargers defeat Birmingham Phoenix

David Wiese and Adam Lyth star as Northern Superchargers defeat Birmingham Phoenix

David Wiese and Adam Lyth star: With a quick 26-ball 56 at the top of the order, Lyth set the tone for victory as Wiese struck 34 runs off 14 balls and took 3 for 15.

In front of a raucous crowd at Edgbaston, Northern Superchargers ended Birmingham Phoenix’s undefeated home record thanks to an outstanding all-around performance from David Wiese and a quickfire half-century from Adam Lyth.

In just 18 balls, Wiese scored 34 runs, including four sixes, to help the visitors, who were batting first, to a respectable total of 169 for 6. Then, as the Phoenix fell 33 runs short, the Namibian international bowled a remarkable stint of 3 for 15 without giving up a single boundary from his 20 deliveries.

Opener Lyth earlier silenced a boisterous 21,014 spectators by hammering an exciting 26-ball 56. Adam Hose added an undefeated 53 to help Superchargers get off to a flying start.

With the engine room of Will Smeed, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, and Matthew Wade all falling cheaply within the first 50 deliveries of their reply, Phoenix’s pursuit was unsuccessful.

After that, it was probably going to be difficult for them to maintain their unbeaten home record, and that’s exactly what happened when the Superchargers won at Edgbaston for the first time in the history of The Hundred thanks to Wiese and Lyth.

Lyth, a Yorkshireman, didn’t spend any time getting going. The former England Test opener stretched his shoulders and swung Australia seamer Kane Richardson for three straight boundaries following a quiet first set bowled by Ali.

No bowler appeared secure. Even one of the top bowlers in the game, Benny Howell, was sent into the Hollies Stand for a maximum after Livingstone’s first two deliveries were both delivered for four in the same manner.

Then, things for the Superchargers became a little more challenging. “Super Moeen Ali” cheers began to resound around Edgbaston as soon as Ali returned to the attack, and the all-rounder immediately used his skills to clean bowl Lyth.

Imran Tahir’s capture at backward point let Dangerman Harry Brook to go for just three shortly after, and then David Willey and John Simpson both dropped for single digits in quick succession, leaving the Superchargers at 99 for 5 in a precarious position.

But Hose and Wiese quickly recovered, putting up 47 for the sixth wicket. The Namibian delivered four of his signature hammer strikes over the rope before giving in to Richardson’s cunning. Hose’s late surge helped the Superchargers set the winning score of 170 for Phoenix in the last set of their innings, which he reached in 32 balls.

In response, Phoenix’s Smeed and Hammond scored 44 points off 20 balls during the powerplay after charging out of the gate.

But a breakdown occurred when the first-ever centurion in the competition holed out to Faf du Plessis for 18. Moeen went for one after Livingstone first failed for five. Shortly after, Wade was caught behind by Adil Rashid, and the outcome seemed quite certain after that.

Wiese and Rashid, two Superchargers bowlers, finished the day with economy rates under one per delivery, giving up just two boundaries between them from their 40 deliveries, suffocating a Phoenix team that relied on routinely clearing the ropes.