Rockets race to comfortable win over Phoenix

The Hundred men's competition, Edgbaston

Birmingham Phoenix 122-6 (100 balls): Livingstone 39 (30); Ferguson 3-20

Trent Rockets 123-4 (78 balls): Banton 43 (29); Howell 2-25

Rockets won by six wickets

Scorecard. Table

Trent Rockets cruised to a six-wicket victory over Birmingham Phoenix to get off to a winning start in The Hundred.

The Rockets' victory was built on a sterling bowling display with New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson taking 3-20.

A 63-run stand between captain Liam Livingstone and Joe Clarke helped Phoenix recover from 26-4 but their 122-6 was never likely to trouble the visitors.

England star Joe Root was bowled early in the chase but it did little to slow the Rockets' charge.

Opener Tom Banton top-scored with 43 and put on 51 with Rehan Ahmed, who made an entertaining 25 from 16 balls, before an Adam Hose boundary got the 2022 champions over the line with 22 balls to spare.

We've got four games for you on Saturday with double-headers at The Oval and in Cardiff.

Oval Invincibles host Manchester Originals (11:00/14:30 BST) and you can follow ball-by-ball commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.

Meanwhile Welsh Fire will welcome London Spirit (14:30/18:00 BST) and you will also be able to watch both of those games live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.