Lewis Gregory Leads Trent Rockets Past Birmingham Phoenix as Five-Game Surge Opens Route to The Hundred Final

Trent Rockets vs Birmingham Phoenix: Match 22 Summary

TL;DR

• Trent Rockets defeated Birmingham Phoenix by seven wickets with 17 balls remaining.
• Phoenix were restricted to 111 for six after being sent in at Trent Bridge.
• Joe Clarke scored 62 from 45 balls, accounting for more than half of Phoenix’s total.
• Lewis Gregory received the match award after taking two wickets for 20 runs.
• Mohammad Amir conceded only one run from his four deliveries before leaving the attack.
• Ben Duckett and Finn Allen added 41 for the first wicket.
• Aneurin Donald struck 17 from six balls, including two sixes.
• Sam Billings finished unbeaten on 31 and sealed victory with a six.
• Usman Tariq took two wickets for 15 runs but entered the attack too late to change the match.
• Rockets have now won five matches in succession and lead the men’s standings.

Rockets Reverse the Result of Their Edgbaston Defeat

The result carried additional value because Birmingham Phoenix had beaten Trent Rockets earlier in the competition.

That first meeting produced a completely different kind of contest. Phoenix scored 214 for four at Edgbaston before surviving a powerful Rockets response to win by 10 runs in the highest-scoring match of the season.

Joe Clarke made 68 from 33 balls during that victory, while Will Smeed contributed 51 and Rehan Ahmed added 48. Readers can revisit the full story in The Sports Encounter’s report on Birmingham Phoenix’s 418-run thriller against Trent Rockets.

At Trent Bridge, the conditions demanded an entirely different skill set.

The pitch offered movement, variable bounce and a slightly two-paced response. Phoenix could not reproduce their Edgbaston freedom, while Rockets adjusted their bowling lengths quickly and attacked the stumps throughout the innings.

Mohammad Amir Strikes Before an Early Exit

Trent Rockets gained control almost immediately.

Mohammad Amir dismissed Mitchell Owen from the fourth delivery of the match. Owen attempted to attack but found Tim David, leaving Phoenix two for one.

Amir’s opening set was nearly perfect. He delivered three dot balls, conceded only one run and removed a dangerous top-order batter.

His spell ended after only four deliveries, however, creating concern over his fitness. Gregory said after the match that Rockets hoped Amir would be fine, although no detailed assessment was immediately available.

The possible loss would matter because Amir has become one of the central figures in the Rockets attack. He recently dismissed Harry Brook and Mitchell Marsh during a decisive late spell in Trent Rockets’ five-run victory over Sunrisers Leeds.

Rockets still had enough experience to cover his absence against Phoenix. Gregory, Craig Overton, Henry, Santner and Harrison maintained the pressure without allowing the batting side an easy recovery.

Will Smeed Gets Trapped in a 16-Ball Struggle

Will Smeed’s innings illustrated how difficult the surface became when the bowlers maintained a disciplined line.

The opener scored six runs from 16 deliveries and found the boundary only once. He struggled to time the ball through the field and consumed nearly one-sixth of the Phoenix innings without creating meaningful momentum.

Santner eventually removed him after 40 balls, with Craig Overton completing the catch. Phoenix were 34 for two and had already used 40 percent of their allocation.

The slow start placed enormous responsibility on Clarke.

Rehan Ahmed could not ease that pressure. He made five from eight balls before Harrison drew a mistake, with Overton taking his second catch of the innings.

Phoenix slipped to 42 for three after 52 balls. They needed an immediate change in tempo merely to post a defendable score.

Joe Clarke Carries Birmingham Phoenix Again

Clarke was the only Phoenix batter who consistently found a way to score.

He reached his half-century from 37 balls with three fours and four sixes. His willingness to target the boundary prevented the innings from falling apart completely while wickets and dot balls accumulated around him.

Laurie Evans gave Clarke his only substantial support. The pair added 50 runs for the fourth wicket from 28 deliveries, taking Phoenix from 42 for three to 92 for three.

Evans scored 19 from 14 balls, including one four and one six. The partnership briefly suggested Phoenix might push toward 135 or 140, a total that could have been competitive on the uneven surface.

Henry stopped the recovery by dismissing Evans from the 81st ball. Santner took the catch, and the innings immediately lost its shape again.

Clarke’s contribution followed his match-winning 68 against the same opposition earlier in the tournament. Across the two meetings, he scored 130 runs and remained the Phoenix batter best equipped to challenge the Rockets attack.

The difference at Trent Bridge was the support around him. Phoenix’s other specialist batters never built enough pressure on the fielding side.

Gregory Breaks Phoenix’s Last Route to a Competitive Total

Gregory delivered the decisive spell during the final phase.

Phoenix captain Donovan Ferreira entered with his side needing immediate acceleration. Instead, he scored one from five balls before Gregory forced him into a catch taken by Overton.

The dismissal left Phoenix 94 for five after 87 balls.

Clarke continued to search for late boundaries and moved to 62, but Gregory removed him from the 97th delivery. Overton completed his fourth catch of the innings.

Gregory finished with two wickets for 20 runs from 20 balls. He delivered nine dot balls and removed the two batters Phoenix most needed during the closing phase.

“We were superb with the ball. We kept chipping away with important wickets,” Gregory said after receiving the match award.

He described the pitch as slightly two-paced, with variable bounce, and explained that the bowling unit had focused on hitting the top of the stumps as hard as possible.

The plan produced consistent pressure. Rockets conceded only 111 despite Clarke’s five sixes and a productive fourth-wicket partnership.

Overton’s Four Catches Complete a Quietly Excellent Performance

Craig Overton did not take a wicket, but his contribution remained central to the result.

He conceded 25 runs from 20 balls and delivered 11 dot balls, the highest dot-ball count among the Rockets bowlers.

Overton also took four catches, dismissing Smeed, Rehan, Ferreira and Clarke.

His work supported a bowling unit in which every main option contributed.

• Gregory took two for 20.
• Harrison claimed one for 17.
• Henry finished with one for 24.
• Santner took one for 22.
• Amir claimed one wicket for one run.

That depth has become one of Trent Rockets’ most important advantages. They can absorb an interrupted spell from Amir without losing control because the attack contains several experienced bowlers capable of operating in different phases.

Why 111 Was Never Likely to Be Enough

Phoenix finished on 111 for six, with Sean Dickson unbeaten on nine and Ben Dwarshuis one not out.

The total required Rockets to score at only 1.12 runs per ball.

On a difficult pitch, that target still demanded sensible batting. It did not require reckless powerplay aggression or constant boundary attempts.

Rockets had already shown their ability to manage awkward chases earlier in the season. Duckett anchored their nine-wicket victory in Cardiff when he scored an unbeaten 52 during Trent Rockets’ dominant chase against Welsh Fire.

The same patience appeared at Trent Bridge.

Duckett and Allen Remove the Early Risk

Ben Duckett and Finn Allen resisted the temptation to attack every delivery.

The pair added 41 runs from 38 balls for the opening wicket. Their scoring rates were modest, but the partnership denied Phoenix the early wickets they needed to make 111 competitive.

Duckett scored 22 from 24 balls, hitting three fours. Allen made 28 from 30 deliveries with two boundaries.

Rockets reached 29 without loss from the 25-ball powerplay. The chase remained comfortably under control even though neither opener had produced a major acceleration.

Usman Tariq finally removed Duckett from the 38th delivery, with Ferreira taking the catch.

The wicket came too late to transform the game. Rockets needed only 71 more runs from 62 balls and still had nine wickets available.

Aneurin Donald Changes the Match in Six Deliveries

Donald entered after Duckett’s dismissal and immediately changed the scoring pattern.

He made 17 from six balls at a strike rate of 283.33, striking one four and two sixes.

His cameo was brief but strategically valuable. Rockets had been scoring safely without taking control of the run rate. Donald’s attack pushed them from 41 for one to 60 for two in only eight deliveries.

Dwarshuis removed him after Mitchell Owen completed the catch, but the damage had been done.

The required rate had almost disappeared, and Billings entered with the freedom to choose his moments rather than chase a demanding equation.

Billings Finishes the Chase With Authority

Billings produced the most fluent innings of the chase.

The Rockets captain scored an unbeaten 31 from 19 balls, hitting one four and three sixes at a strike rate of 163.15.

He combined with Allen to take Rockets to 106 before Tariq removed the opener from the 76th delivery. Ferreira completed his third catch, but only six runs remained.

Tim David struck his first delivery for four and finished unbeaten on four.

Billings then used his feet against Rehan and launched the 83rd ball for six, carrying Rockets to 116 for three.

The winning shot reflected the difference between the teams. Phoenix spent much of their innings searching for rhythm. Billings entered after a stable foundation and could attack without carrying the weight of the entire batting order.

Usman Tariq Was Birmingham Phoenix’s Best Bowler, but Arrived Too Late

Tariq produced the only Phoenix spell that consistently troubled the Rockets.

He took two wickets for 15 runs from 20 balls and delivered 11 dot balls. His economy rate of 0.75 runs per delivery was comfortably the best among the Phoenix bowlers who completed a substantial spell.

Both wickets came against established batters. He removed Duckett and Allen, giving Phoenix brief openings at either end of the chase.

The tactical question concerns when he was introduced.

Ferreira held Tariq back until Rockets had already established their opening partnership. By then, the target was under control and the batting side could absorb dot balls without taking desperate risks.

Tariq’s figures suggest Phoenix may have gained more from using him earlier, especially on a pitch offering inconsistent bounce.

The rest of the attack struggled for impact. Saqib Mahmood conceded 29 runs from 15 balls, while Mitchell Owen’s five deliveries cost 18. Rehan gave away 19 from 13 balls and conceded the match-winning six.

Phoenix’s Batting Problems Are Becoming Difficult to Ignore

Phoenix’s innings depended almost entirely on Clarke.

He scored 62 of their 104 runs from the bat, accounting for nearly 60 percent of the team’s non-extra total.

Owen, Smeed, Rehan and Ferreira combined for only 13 runs from 32 balls. Their collective strike rate left Clarke and Evans attempting to repair both the wicket situation and the scoring rate.

This was not the first time Phoenix had struggled to build a competitive total. Southern Brave previously restricted them to 128 before Marcus Stoinis and a disciplined attack produced a significant defensive victory.

The wider competition has shown how costly slow starts can be. Phil Salt had to play an unusually patient captain’s innings when Welsh Fire chased a modest total against Southern Brave, but his teammates still supplied enough support to prevent the innings becoming dependent on one player.

Phoenix did not provide Clarke with the same balance.

Rockets’ Five-Game Winning Run Has Several Different Foundations

Trent Rockets have now won five consecutive matches, but the victories have not followed one pattern.

They dominated Welsh Fire through Santner, Henry and Duckett. Against Sunrisers Leeds, Amir defended a total under late pressure. Phoenix were beaten through collective bowling discipline and a controlled chase.

That variety separates a strong tournament team from a side dependent on one favorable method.

Gregory highlighted the experience within the bowling group after the match. Overton, Amir and Henry have operated in major competitions around the world, while Santner and Harrison provide contrasting spin options through the middle.

The batting lineup also contains several possible match-winners. Duckett and Allen can set the platform, Donald can attack immediately, and Billings and David offer power through the closing phase.

Other leading teams possess similar depth. MI London recently combined major contributions from Will Jacks and Nicholas Pooran with Rashid Khan’s five wickets in a 45-run victory over Manchester Super Giants.

Rockets’ advantage is that they are currently converting their depth into results more consistently than anyone else.

What the Result Means for Trent Rockets

Trent Rockets have won five of their six matches and sit clear at the top of the men’s competition.

Two further victories would guarantee direct qualification for the final. One win may be enough because their net run rate is significantly stronger than that of Welsh Fire, one of their closest competitors.

Automatic qualification matters because the team finishing first advances directly to the final, avoiding the additional risk of the Eliminator.

Rockets should still resist looking too far ahead.

Amir’s fitness is the immediate concern, and the schedule offers little room for complacency. Their next matches will test whether the bowling attack can maintain its control against stronger and more aggressive batting lineups.

The position is excellent. Qualification is not yet mathematically complete.

What Birmingham Phoenix Must Fix

Phoenix remain at the bottom of the standings after another defeat that exposed problems in both selection and match management.

The batting order needs more intent around Clarke. Smeed’s 16-ball six placed too much early pressure on the innings, while Ferreira’s five-ball struggle arrived at the worst possible time.

The bowling strategy also requires review.

Tariq was clearly the most effective bowler, yet his introduction came after Duckett and Allen had removed much of the danger from the chase. Ferreira must find ways to deploy his best wicket-taking option while the opposition still feels scoreboard pressure.

Phoenix have already shown their ceiling. Their 214 against Rockets at Edgbaston remains one of the most explosive batting performances of the season.

The contrast between that total and 111 at Trent Bridge reveals the larger problem: they have not found a reliable method when the pitch prevents uncomplicated hitting.

Attendance of 11,988 Provides a Respectable but Incomplete Backdrop

The match attracted 11,988 spectators to Trent Bridge.

That represented a respectable five-figure turnout and provided moments of genuine atmosphere, particularly as Allen and Billings moved the chase toward completion.

The figure remained well below a full house, however, with noticeable areas of empty seating visible during the television broadcast.

Attendance has become part of the wider conversation around The Hundred 2026, especially as improved playing standards compete with questions about ticket value, franchise identity and the visual impression created by underfilled sections.

The competition has still produced some significantly larger crowds. More than 23,000 spectators attended Lord’s when Liam Livingstone scored 69 and took two wickets during Manchester Super Giants’ victory over London Spirit.

The difference between venues reinforces the need to assess demand match by match rather than apply one conclusion across the entire tournament.

Key Numbers From Match 22

• Trent Rockets won with 17 balls remaining.
• Rockets have won five consecutive matches.
• Birmingham Phoenix scored only 25 runs during the 25-ball powerplay.
• Clarke reached fifty from 37 balls.
• Clarke and Evans added 50 from 28 deliveries.
• Gregory took two wickets and delivered nine dot balls.
• Overton delivered 11 dot balls and completed four catches.
• Harrison conceded only 17 runs from 20 balls.
• Duckett and Allen added 41 for the opening wicket.
• Donald scored 17 from six deliveries.
• Billings struck three sixes during his unbeaten 31.
• Tariq took two for 15 and delivered 11 dot balls.
• The match attracted 11,988 spectators.

Final Verdict

Trent Rockets produced the performance of a team that understood the conditions faster and trusted its collective strength.

Gregory led a bowling attack that maintained a straight line, attacked the stumps and used the variable bounce effectively. Harrison, Henry, Santner and Amir all contributed wickets, while Overton supported the attack with 11 dot balls and four catches.

Clarke gave Birmingham Phoenix a chance with another impressive innings against the Rockets. His 62 was technically controlled, increasingly aggressive and far better than anything produced by the batters around him.

Phoenix still finished with only 111 because the top order consumed too many deliveries and the middle order failed to capitalize on Clarke and Evans’ recovery.

Rockets approached the chase without unnecessary risk. Duckett and Allen established control, Donald supplied the acceleration, and Billings completed the result with the authority expected from a captain leading the tournament’s strongest team.

Five consecutive wins have placed Trent Rockets within touching distance of direct qualification for the final.

Phoenix remain capable of spectacular cricket, as their earlier victory over the same opponents proved. Until they learn to adapt when the surface removes easy scoring, those explosive evenings will remain isolated rather than part of a sustainable campaign.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won Trent Rockets vs Birmingham Phoenix in Match 22?

Trent Rockets defeated Birmingham Phoenix by seven wickets with 17 balls remaining. Phoenix scored 111 for six before Rockets reached 116 for three from 83 deliveries.

Who was named Player of the Match?

Lewis Gregory received the match award after taking two wickets for 20 runs from 20 balls.

How many runs did Joe Clarke score?

Joe Clarke scored 62 from 45 balls, hitting three fours and five sixes.

What were Sam Billings’ figures?

Billings finished unbeaten on 31 from 19 deliveries, with one four and three sixes. He sealed the victory by hitting Rehan Ahmed for six.

How well did Usman Tariq bowl?

Tariq took two wickets for 15 runs from 20 deliveries and produced 11 dot balls. He dismissed both Ben Duckett and Finn Allen.

How many consecutive matches have Trent Rockets won?

Trent Rockets have won five matches in succession after losing their opening game of the competition.

What was the attendance at Trent Bridge?

The official attendance was 11,988.

Where can fans find official fixtures and results?

Match schedules, results, team information and tournament updates are available through the official website of The Hundred.