England white-ball captain Harry Brook conjured an incredible reverse 'Dilscoop' for six against Tim Southee, during a 2025 Hundred match.
First-ball sixes, while not as uncommon as they once used to be, continue to be a commendable mini-feat in the game. Harry Brook took it to another level with an audacious first-ball welcome to Tim Southee, during the Northern Superchargers' game against Birmingham Phoenix at Leeds.
Brook takes on Southee
Coming in at No.4, skipper Brook took no time to settle and get the proverbial eye in. Southee, part of the recent England-India Test series as a specialist skills consultant for the home team, was at the receiving end of the shot.
Replacing Michael Pepper in the middle, Brook unfurled his best version of the shot made famous by Tillakaratne Dilshan, to an area often accessed by Southee's ex-teammate and Brook's current coach, Brendon McCullum. A length ball from Southee was dismissed over the keeper's head with a boldly executed scoop – reverse, if you may – falling on the crease as he managed to get underneath the ball. He fell on his back, watching the ball soar into the stands.
Match 14, Northern Superchargers vs Birmingham Phoenix
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Livingstone, Bethell's knocks in vain
Brook faced 14 off the next 26 balls, powering his way to 31 not out with the help of another six and two fours. It carried the Superchargers to 193-5 – the highest total since the 2023 edition – which the Phoenix fell short of by 36 runs. Earlier, Zak Crawley and Dawid Malan put on a 67-run opening stand, laying the groundwork for Brook's late charge. For Phoenix, Liam Livingstone and Jacob Bethell (England's soon-to-be interim captain) put on a crucial 80-run stand, but no one else could cross 15. Matthew Potts took three, while Adil Rashid was named Player of the Match for dismissing both Livingstone and Bethell.
The Superchargers currently sit pretty at the top of the table with three wins in four games. The Phoenix hurtled to their third defeat in four games, and are stuck at the bottom of the pile.
Watch Harry Brook's incredible reverse scoop
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