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Daniel Sams smashed a 55-ball half-century but the Australian's efforts for Trent Rockets were in vain as Matthew Wade saw Birmingham Phoenix to victory.

But for Daniel Sams the crowd at Edgbaston would have been home well before darkness fell in Birmingham, most of them happy at winning but feeling cheated of cricket.

Trent Rockets had stumbled to 6-53 off 54 balls on Monday when Sams joined skipper Lewis Gregory. After spinners Moeen Ali and Tahir Ali had dismissed danger men Alex Hales and Dawid Malan for one and nine respectively Benny Howell (3-28) had ripped through the middle-order.

But Sams battered an unbeaten 55 from 25 balls with three sixes and five fours. With Gregory adding 35 off 22 the pair put on an unbeaten 92 off 46 balls enabling Phoenix to finish on 6-145.

It was a respectable score, and looked better when Wednesday's centurion, Will Smeed, followed Saturday's duck by being bowled for one.

But it was not enough, despite Luke Wood's 3-17 off 20. Moeen crashed 52 off 28 balls, Liam Livingstone 51no off 32, and Aussie Matt Wade, as so often the finisher, ended unbeaten with 14 off ten.

Phoenix, with 3-149 off 86 balls, won by seven wickets with 14 deliveries to spare, inflicting the first defeat in the opening four games on Rockets in the process.

"We are just doing the basics quite well," said Moeen. "We're gathering some momentum now and it's always nice to win especially at home. We are unbeaten at home now and it's a tricky place for the opposition to come and play."