The women’s Hundred tournament at the Utilita Bowl saw the Trent Rockets defeat the Southern Brave with ease, scoring 24 runs to preserve their hopes of making it to the knockout stages.
Notwithstanding some late fireworks from Chloe Tryon, the formidable Rockets total of 155, which included an undefeated 60 from England all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt, proved too much for Brave to pursue.
After Linsey Smith was run out on the opening ball of the inning and Nat Wraith was bowled for 12 by Lauren Cheatle, the Rockets went to bat.
However, Sciver-Brunt formed partnerships of 33 with Ash Gardner (18) and 62 with Grace Scrivens (36) to establish Rockets as the dominant team.
Lauren Bell took three wickets in the final balls of the innings, including Australia internationals Heather Graham and Alana King from consecutive deliveries.
Brave were 1-2 within four balls, as teenager Alexa Stonehouse dismissed the dangerous pair of Danni Wyatt and Maia Bouchier for ducks.
Smriti Mandhana struck 42 to help rebuild the home side’s innings, but her dismissal sparked three wickets falling within seven balls to leave Brave 86-6 with 24 balls remaining.
South Africa all-rounder Tyron (47*) clubbed four fours and two sixes to drag the Brave score towards respectability, but they finished well short of the total required.
What else do you need to know?
- The Rockets stay in fifth, but now move within a point of third-placed London Spirit and fourth-placed Oval Invincibles, who are tied on seven points. All three teams have two matches remaining. Brave have already been eliminated from the competition.
- Sciver-Brunt’s 60 saw her move past opponent Wyatt to become the tournament’s leading run-scorer. The Trent Rockets all-rounder has 269 runs, while Brave’s opener has 225.
- Bell will be frustrated she didn’t claim the wicket of England teammate Sciver-Brunt when she was on 37. Her delivery ricocheted off bat and boot and onto the stumps, but failed to dislodge the bails.
‘We held our nerve’ – what they said
Rockets all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt: “Their batters put us under the pump, made us go through a few plans, we found the right one in the end and held our nerve with our skill.
“After the first four games we felt pretty down. Three close games and not coming out the right side of it. It takes some getting back for the next game, but we’ve come back strong in the following two matches.
“Two more games to go, who knows what will happen.”