Trent Rockets are off the final in this year’s women’s Hundred. It will be their first appearance on Final’s Day at Lord’s. They defeated Southern Brave at Trent Bridge in the top of the table clash on Monday by 3 wickets with 2 balls to spare thanks to a rather special player at number seven, Nat Sciver-Brunt, who came to the rescue. More about her later.
Heading the Hundred ladder going into the last round of matches Rockets were expected to reach the final owing to their run rate advantage over 2nd placed Brave.
POWER PLAY HISTORY MADE
But when their score stood at 10/3 at the end of the power play (the lowest power play score in the history of The Hundred) it was still possible, however very unlikely for the Rockets to miss out. They only needed to reach 27!
As for Monday’s match result that remained in the balance until the arrival of the home side’s number seven England skipper Nat Sciver Brunt who came to the rescue. After the match Sciver-Brunt explained why she was batting down the order “It was a little bit tactically and a bit of body management as well and to allow some others more time in the middle” said Sciver-Brunt.
Earlier as is the norm in this year’s Hundred, Rockets skipper Ash Gardner chose to bowl after winning the toss. Southern Brave were without their skipper Sophie Molineux who was suffering with a tummy bug and were led by Laura Wolvaardt, the South Africa captain. “It was a big miss not to have our best bowler this season and someone who bats at five” said Wolvaardt.
With Jemimah Rodrigues being replaced due to injury by Australian Charli Knott, Brave’s batting looks a tad weak. They are very reliant on South Africans Lizelle Lee, Wolvaardt and England international Maia Bouchier.
BRAVE FAIL TO RAISE TEMPO
Opening batter Lee looked dangerous in the Trent Bridge sunshine striking 5 4’s in her 31 from 28 balls. Sadly Lee, the Player of the match in last year’s WBBL has not recaptured that kind of form in this year’s Hundred. Perhaps she will do so in the final stages of the tournament. At the end of the power play Brave were 25/0 and alongside Bouchier she added 49 for the 1st wicket from 47 balls.
Wolvaardt joined Bouchier to take the score to 95/2 (79), but when the skipper was out Bouchier 38 (33) soon followed 99/3 (85). A solid platform had been laid by the international trio although an increase in the scoring rate never really came.
adams shines with the ball
This was increasingly due to a tight spell of bowling at the back end of the innings by the Brave’s former captain Georgia Adams, who took 2/14 in her 20 balls. No boundaries were scored off her off spin and she grabbed the wickets of Bouchier and Jody Grewcock in successive balls to leave the visitors at 99/4 (86).
Southern Brave’s final score of 117/5 looked modest but proved more of a challenge than expected.
Brave’s strength is with the ball. They have probably the best and most varied attack in the women’s Hundred albeit on Monday without Molineux.
trent rockets wobble
On 10/3 with Sophia Dunkley (1) , Beth Mooney (6) and Sophie Luff (1) all out and Sciver Brunt down the order they looked like firm favourites. It took them 35 balls to score the first boundary
Gardner and Bess Heath then teamed up to add 53 for the 4th wicket to put them back in the game. “The partnership between Ash and Bess stopped the Brave’s momentum and got us back into the game” said Sciver-Brunt
Gardner, who was particularly strong off the back foot, scored 37 (25) before she was caught at deep square leg off the excellent Tilly Corteen-Coleman. Heath 18 (19) was out five balls later to leave Rockets in trouble at 66/5.
sciver-brunt to the resuce
Rockets still needed 52 from 31 balls. Who would you like to call in a crisis? There is no one better than Nat Sciver-Brunt, who in a flash transformed the game. With a little help from the Georgia’s, Adams 10(7) and Georgia Elwiss 10 (4) Rockets reached their target after 98 balls despite the star of the show being run out for 32(19) when the scores were level.
“I felt very clear in my mind what I needed to do so I was just happy it came off” said a modest Sciver- Brunt.
England bowlers Lauren Bill and Tilly Corteen Coleman were the pick of the Southern Brave attack with 0-20 and 2-16 respectively. Corteen-Coleman with 13 is now the leading wicket taker in The Hundred.
“We did well to take it that deep. I thought we were a little bit short with the bat. I think if we had been better at the end we could have pushed for 140” said Wolvaardt.
stephen’s standout player
It must be Rockets number 7 Nat Sciver-Brunt. The England skipper changed the direction of the match the moment she arrived at the crease. Within 8 balls she scored 24, including 5 4’s. You felt the bowlers were intimidated by her presence.
Rockets maybe managing her workload due to her injury concerns, but she remains the player you do not want to bowl too.
I’m sure the Rockets physio will be busy this week but let’s hope she is back up the order on Sunday and in the best condition she can be.
Plus, as the Meerkat Match Hero she won another toy for her son Theo.
after match comments
nat sciver-brunt
I love playing for this team, I love being at home, I live about 35 minutes away and in such a busy summer it’s priceless to be able to stay at home.
We’ve seen in the last few years that the team that went through to the final doesn’t win so I guess we will just have to be aware of that and make sure we are firing on all cylinders when it comes to the game on Sunday.
We’re so excited at reaching the final. We will enjoy the occasion and hopefully get over the line
stephen’s summary
After Tuesday’s night’s action in the Hundred Southern Brave will now play Sunrisers Leeds, last years winners when known as Northen Superchargers in the eliminator at the Oval. Sunrisers with their Australian trio of Annabel Sutherland, Phoebe Litchfield and Jess Jonassen, plus Deepti Sharma, the Hundred’s match winning hero of 2024 look the form team following their comfortable win against Manchester Super Giants.
Sunrisers skipper Sutherland and opening batter Litchfield are in superb form. The pair are the top run scorers in the tournaent. On Tuesday Sutherland scored 62 not out, took two wickets and two catches whilst you could say Litchfield was too confident on Tuesday as she cruised to 27 off 12 balls before being caught.
Brave have stumbled their way to the eliminator. Last year’s runners up have lost their last three games and have been affected by injury and illness. The good news as Wolvaardt confirmed afterwards is that skipper Sophie Molineux should be OK for Friday’s eliminator at the Oval.
Southern Brave’s strength is with the ball. An international bowling group who earlier in the tournament were able to hold on in single figure victories against Welsh Fire and MI London. For them to beat Sunrisers Leeds and have a crack at redemption after last year’s final defeat they need the top three to make major contributions and apply pressure with the ball. Commenting on her own form after the game Wolvaardt said “I’m feeling a lot better. I’m just not quite converting my starts but I’m defiantly striking the ball a lot better so hopefully it counts in the eliminator”. If she can produce her world-class form alongside Lee and Bouchier and the returning Molineux, we could be in for a fantastic eliminator.
stephen’s winners on sunday
However, I’m going for the inform Sunrisersowever, winners of their last four matches, to win the eliminator and do the same on Sunday. But covering all bases with Monday’s number 7 on your side, Nat Sciver-Brunt might come to the rescue for the Rockets and see them home for the first time in The Hundred.
match result
Trent Rockets 118/7 Gardner 37, Sciver-Brunt 32 – Corteen-Coleman 2/16
Southern Brave 117/5 Bouchier 38, Lee 31 – Adams 2/14
Trent Rockets won by 3 wickets with 2 balls to spare