NOTTINGHAM, England, CMC – Barbadian Jacob Bethell flourished, but West Indies Twenty20 captain Rovman Powell sparkled only briefly as Birmingham Phoenix beat Trent Rockets by six runs in the Men’s Hundred.
Sent in at Edgbaston on Wednesday night, Phoenix gathered 138 for six from their allotted 100 deliveries, with the left-handed Bethell hitting an unbeaten 46 off 29 balls.
The 20-year-old, born and raised in Barbados before switching his allegiance to England and playing in the Under-19 World Cup two years ago, struck three fours and two sixes to give his side a strong finish in a 44-run, unbroken seventh wicket stand with Louis Kimber (12 not out).
Liam Livingstone had earlier scored 30 from 20 balls in a 48-run, second-wicket partnership with Ben Duckett (20), as Phoenix recovered from the early loss of Aneurin Donald (7) with only eight runs on the board.
Rockets then looked on course for victory at 74 for one after 47 deliveries, with Alex Hales (38) and Joe Root (33) involved in a 61-run second-wicket stand.
When both perished in close proximity to each other, leaving Rockets on 89 for three, Powell arrived to blast two fours and a six in a 13-ball 21 to inspire a 36-run stand for the fourth wicket and revive the chase.
Powell’s demise, however, stunningly taken at deep cover by Bethell, signaled Rockets’ decline as off-spinner Dan Mousley grabbed three for nine to further cripple the lower order.
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