Liam Livingstone brilliantly paid Rashid Khan a thrilling and 181 to lead Rashid Khan to lead Birmingham Phoenix and defeated Oval Invinesals, defending champions in men’s hundred.
Phoenix, both of their first two fixtures were beaten, required 61 runs from 24 balls, with six wickets before Captain Livingstone, with three sixes and two fours for 26 runs from superstar Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid.
With the need for the last 10 to 22, he thrashed Tom Curan for another two sixes to keep Phoenix on the verge.
Then, with three to protect against the last five, Saqib Mahmood took two wickets in two balls, but Beni Howell dropped one four and Livingstone from 27 to 69 – Phoenix completed the third highest chase in four wickets and two balls with four wickets and two balls.
Rashid’s final figures – out of 20 balls 0-59 – The most expensive in the tournament as Invinesals began the victory for the tournament.
Donovan Pharreera hit 63 with 29 balls and collided with a cruel 63 to increase him to 180-8 and kept him under control.
Instead, Livingstone, supported from 29 to 51 by opener Will Simed, produced one of one of the best knocks, sealed one of the more inappropriate win.
