Trent Rockets comfortably defeated MI London at the Oval in their penultimate game of this year’s Hundred on Saturday winning by 9 wickets with 18 balls to spare. MI coach Lisa Keightley summed it up well after the match “not enough runs” she said. Indeed 121 was never going to test the on fire Trent Rockets outfit.
Trent Rockets head the table with 6 wins from 7 matches. Win their final game on Monday against Southern Brave at Trent Bridge and the final awaits on Sunday 16 August. Southern Brave lost their game against Manchester Super Giants later on Saturday to open up that possibility.
Ash Gardner won the toss and inserted the home side who have struggled throughout the tournament winning only one match.
MI London still missing the injured World Cup leading run scorer Danni Wyatt-Hodge made a steady start. Hayley Matthews and Kira Chathli laid a solid platform to reach 28/0 at the end of the power play but within 12 balls they were 39/2. The out of form Matthews (10) and skipper Holly Armitage (4) were both LBW. Whilst Matthews has performed well with the ball, 10 wickets, her batting return of 105 runs has been disappointing for a world class player.
MI struggle’S CONTINUE
Chathli 31(27) offered some resistance before she was 3rd out, again LBW to the experienced slow left arm spinner Sam Bates. Aussie World Cup Winner Nicola Carey followed next ball, her first, to a lazy dismissal. A causal trip down the wicket left her stumped down the leg side by the sharp Beth Mooney. MI London 49/4 (49 balls).
The situation nearly got worse when Bates was denied a hat trick on DRS review. AliceMonaghansurvived another leg before decision. MI London, who had won their first game two days ago at Lord’s, looked like a team going nowhere.
To be fair Thursday’s hero Kiwi Melie Kerr looked to be in good touch before she was caught tamely at extra cover for 17 (14) to leave MI London 73/5.
Chinelle Henry joined Alice Monaghan to add 48 (34) to give MI London’s innings a degree of respectability at 121. Both struck 27 off 21 balls with Henry striking four powerful boundaries in her 20 minute knock.
Bates finished with impressive figures of 3/13 and now has ten wickets in this year’s Hundred one behind the leading wicket takers Tilly Corteen-Coleman and Sophie Molineux with 11 each.
Trent Rockets lost opener Sophia Dunkley for 0 bowled by Tara Norris but that was the only bright spot for the home side. Norris did apply some early pressure through her swing bowling and at the end of the power play Trent Rockets were 27/1.
world’s best batters make the difference
Enter England skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt to join Beth Mooney. Sciver-Brunt swept her first ball to the legside boundary and double figures came after 6 balls. She looked like a batter in total command. In her three previous appearances in this year’s Hundred, she scored 37 not out, 33 and 24. Quick onto anything short Sciver-Brunt has the knack of scoring off most balls that few others have.
Along with Mooney they dismantled the MI London bowling attack. By halfway Rockets were 68/1. The pair continued to press, and Sciver-Brunt reached her half century off 27 balls failing to score off six. Meanwhile, Mooney reached her fifty off 43 balls.
Two of the world’s best batters had added 118 from 72 balls in the Oval sunshine to give Trent Rockets a commanding win. Sciver Brunt innings of 67 (36) included 9 4’s failing to score on only six deliveries.
AFTER MATCH COMMENTS
“It was really satisfying to walk off both not out. I’m really happy for Beth. She’s wanted to be a bit more involved with the bat and I was really glad she was able to do that today” said a delighted Sciver-Brunt after the game. Including this half century Mooney has so far scored only 126 runs in the Hundred 2026.
At the close of the match Sciver-Brunt confirmed she would be available for all the vital games coming up.
“At the moment yes. I will be catching up with my sports science and medical team later today and tomorrow. It’s a constant conversation about how it’s been going and how I’m feeling but that is the plan” said Sciver Brunt.
Reflecting on the match Keightley said “we’re finishing ok in the middle and back end but losing early wickets up front has probably cost us 30 runs that we needed on that wicket against that team.
And despite the defeat, their 5th in the competition Keightley still felt they were fighting hard and showing character on the field. “I still feel we are doing that as a group and that’s really important for this stage of the competition. If you can upset a few teams with finals approaching, we are doing our job. We’ve got one game to play, and we’ll go out and try and win it” she said.
After losing their second game to London Spirit, Trent Rockets have won their last 5 games. They will go into Monday’s clash full of confidence while Brave have lost their last two matches. Without Indian international Jemimah Rodrigues who has just withdrawn because of injury last year’s runners up look more vulnerable especially on the batting front.
Stephen’s standout player
Nat Sciver- Brunt – For me she stands alone as the batter who score is always moving. She has now scored 161 runs off 98 balls. She finds the gaps better than any other player. Her presence in the Trent Rockets side makes the difference even if she cannot bowl at the moment.
Plus, as the Meerkat Match Hero, she was awarded a toy Meerkat. Her son Theo will be pleased.
“I’ve not got one before, he will like this one” joked Sciver-Brunt.
Trent Rockets 125/1 Sciver-Brunt 67 not out, Mooney 54 not out
MI London 121/5 Chathli 31 Monaghan 27, Henry 27, Bates 3/13
Trent Rockets won by 9 wickets with 18 balls to spare