London Spirit finished their 2026 Men’s Hundred season on a high note, securing a seven-wicket victory against Birmingham Phoenix in a clash between the tournament’s bottom two sides. The win allowed Spirit to avoid the bottom spot, while Birmingham Phoenix concluded their difficult campaign with only one victory from seven matches.
Chasing a target of 163, Spirit lost Jonny Bairstow early to Saqib Mahmood, but captain Liam Livingstone and Dewald Brevis quickly seized control. Livingstone was particularly aggressive, reaching his fifty in just 21 balls and hitting a massive 104-metre six during his 30-ball 66, which featured seven fours and four sixes. The duo put on a match-defining 103-run partnership off 47 balls, showing tactical discipline by playing cautiously against Usman Tariq, who finished with economical figures of 13 runs from 20 balls.
Although Livingstone eventually fell, the required run rate had been reduced to a manageable level. Brevis remained unbeaten on 55 from 31 deliveries, striking five fours and three sixes, and ultimately sealed the win with back-to-back boundaries off Rehan Ahmed with 18 balls to spare.
Earlier, Birmingham Phoenix posted 162 for 4 after being sent in to bat. Despite early struggles against spinners James Coles and Mason Crane, which saw Mitchell Owen, Joe Weatherley, and Laurie Evans depart for single-digit scores, Joe Clarke and Sean Dickson revitalized the innings. The pair combined for a 92-run stand from 47 balls, with Clarke smashing five sixes and four fours in his 73 off 42 balls before being caught by Livingstone off Henry Crocombe. Dickson remained not out on 51 from 28 balls, and a late cameo from Donovan Ferreira helped push the total past 160, though it proved insufficient against the Spirit’s batting display.
Brief scores: Birmingham Phoenix 162/4 in 100 balls (Joe Clarke 73, Sean Dickson 51*; James Coles 1-25) lost to London Spirit 166/3 in 82 balls (Liam Livingstone 66, Dewald Brevis 55*; Tom Helm 1-31) by 7 wickets.
Liam Livingstone and Dewald Brevis struck half-centuries as London Spirit defeated Birmingham Phoenix in the battle of the bottom sides to end their 2026 Men’s Hundred campaign on a winning note.
Livingstone joined Luan-dre Pretorius, and after the latter fell for 16 off 11, combined with Brevis to take the game away from Phoenix.
Livingstone was particularly destructive, racing to his half-century from just 21 balls, including a 104-metre six, as the pair tore into the Phoenix attack.
The win ensured Spirit avoided finishing with the wooden spoon with their second win of the season, while Phoenix ended the campaign at the bottom of the table with a solitary win in seven games.
