Spin twins share eight as the middle order folds

A collapse of six for 38 after tea handed the initiative back on a pitch that had looked benign.

What it means

The side's recent form has been shaped as much by conditions as by selection, and Birmingham Phoenix will take confidence from the way the order has adapted between formats.

We back the group. The preparation has been good and the rest takes care of itself.

The management have been consistent in public about wanting continuity, and the balance of the XI reflects that — a settled top order, with the flexibility to lengthen the batting when the surface demands it.

What comes next

Attention now turns to the remainder of the schedule, where Birmingham Phoenix face a run of fixtures that will test the depth of the squad more than any single result has so far.