The Hundred: Will Smeed hits first century in competition as Birmingham Phoenix beat Southern Brave | Cricket News

Will Smeed (101 not out) made history in The Hundred and Henry Brooks took five wickets as Birmingham Phoenix thrashed defending champions Southern Brave; watch Oval Invincibles vs Northern Superchargers live on Sky from 2.30pm on Thursday, coverage of the women’s Hundred starts at 6pm

On a history-making night, Will Smeed hit the first century in The Hundred and Henry Brookes took five wickets at Edgbaston as Birmingham Phoenix beat defending champions Southern Brave.

Story of the match

On NHS Heroes Night in Birmingham, with workers and support staff invited along as a thank you for their brilliant work, a 14,000 crowd was royally entertained as Smeed blazed an unbeaten 101 off 50 balls to lift his side to 176-4.

The Brave replied with a paltry 123 all out as Brookes enjoyed a dream debut on the ground he has always called home.

He took 5-25 and two excellent catches as Phoenix banked their first victory of the campaign and handed James Vince’s side their first defeat in nine matches.

After Phoenix were put in, they leaned heavily on Smeed after Chris Benjamin, promoted to open, and Moeen Ali each raced to 17 but then perished.

Benjamin sent up a skier off Marcus Stoinis before Ali, having lifted George Garton deep into the crowd at mid-wicket, chopped James Fuller’s first ball on to his stumps.

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A look at the best shots, catches and wickets from the first week of The Hundred.

Smeed galloped to a 25-ball half-century, reached with a six over long-off off Jake Lintott in a stand of 80 in 44 balls with Liam Livingstone.

Livingstone never really hit his stride, scoring just two from his first seven balls and 21 from 20 before lifting Lintott to extra cover.

Into the last 10 balls, the big question was will Smeed complete his ton? He needed five from the last three and a four and a two took him to the magical mark from 49 balls.

Henry Brookes took 5-25 during Birmingham Phoenix’s victory

Phoenix set about defending their total with an increasingly-depleted seam attack, Adam Milne having joined Matt Fisher, Chris Woakes and Olly Stone on the absentee list.

But Kane Richardson soon stepped up, bowling Vince with his first delivery after the Brave captain had smacked Ali for 16 in three balls in the first set.

Richardson conceded just a single from his first five balls and Phoenix struck again when Stoinis was brilliantly caught by Brookes at short fine-leg off Tom Helm.

Brookes followed that up in sensational style by striking with his second, 10th, 13th, 15th and 17th balls.

Quinton de Kock sent back a return catch, Tim David lifted to deep square-leg, Alex Davies was bowled through an attempted scoop for 33 and Fuller and Garton were pinned lbw.

Brookes had not quite finished. At 108-7, Brave’s one sliver of remaining hope lay in some pyrotechnics from the big-hitting Ross Whiteley, but when he blasted Benny Howell to long leg, Brookes made no mistake and Richardson then cleaned up the tail.

What’s next?

Thursday sees the start of the women’s competition with the game between Oval Invincibles and Northern Superchargers. Build up on Sky Sports The Hundred, Sky Sports Mix and Sky Sports Main Event begins at 6pm ahead of the first ball at 6.30pm.

The men’s fixture will take place before with coverage from 2.30pm and the first ball at 3pm. You can also watch the match via our a free live stream on skysports.com, the Sky Sports App and the Sky Sports Cricket YouTube channel.

Invincibles vs Superchargers

August 11, 2022, 2:30pm

Live on

Invincibles vs Superchargers

August 11, 2022, 6:00pm

Live on

Watch every match from The Hundred this summer live on Sky Sports. The women’s competition starts on Thursday with defending champions Oval Invincibles taking on Northern Superchargers at The Kia Oval (6.30pm start).

Tickets for The Hundred are selling fast! If you want to be part of the action, go to thehundred.com/tickets