Trent Rockets fell to a second defeat of the day to the Birmingham Phoenix, as England pair Moeen Ali and Liam Livngstone struck half centuries.

Having fell to 53/6, the Rockets rallied to 145-6, before Luke Wood’s three-wicket blitz gave the Rockets hope of a comeback victory.

However, Ali (52) and Livingstone (51*) cleared the rope on multiple occasions to lift the Phoenix to their third win in four, level with the Rockets.

Having won the toss and elected to bowl first, the Phoenix were on top from the off, Alex Hales and Dawid Malan back in the dugout within the first eight deliveries.

A jubilant Imran Tahir was replaced with the deceptive Benny Howell, who removed Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Ian Cockbain and Samit Patel, the Rockets dropping to 53/6 just beyond the halfway stage.

Lewis Gregory’s men were in dire need of a partnership and the skipper found the right support in the form of Daniel Sams.

First looking for the ones and twos, then finding the rope before eventually clearing it five times between the pair, as a 46-ball 92 run partnership lifted the Rockets to a respectable 145/6.

Skipper Gregory (35* frm 22), after initially leading the recovery, played second fiddle to Sams’ (55* from 25), the Australia taking a particular liking to the otherwise economic Howell.

The Rockets required a fast start and they were provided just that by their very own speedster, Luke Wood, who bowled The Hundred’s first ever centurion, Will Smeed, for just one.

The left-armer produced a searing yorker to pin Miles Hammond in front for 20, before hitting Ali on the head with a nasty bouncer.

The knock to the head seemed to ignite the England international however, three fours and five maximums coming in his 28-ball 52.

Wood would return to claim his prized scalp, but the majority of the damage had been done, Livingstone completing the job with a fourth maximum of his own to bring up a half-century.

The result marks the first defeat for the Rockets in the men’s tournament, and leaves them alongside the Phoenix and the Oval Invicibles, who they welcome to Trent Bridge on Wednesday.

London Spirit remain on top and are now the only unbeaten side left in the competition.

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Witness the Trent Rockets at Trent Bridge in their next home fixture versus Oval Invicibles on Wednesday 17 August. Secure your seats...