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Trent Rockets blanked London Spirit by 22 runs at Nottingham’s Trent Bridge in match 20 of The Hundred Men’s 2024 season.
The outcome helped Trent Rockets gain two rungs to climb to number three on the eight-team points table. With three wins against two defeats from five games, the Rockets hold a positive NRR of 0.600. They trail table-toppers Southern Brave and defending champions Oval Invincibles at number two. Both Brave and Invincibles have so far secured four wins from five matches to accumulate eight points.
Birmingham Phoenix, at number four, remain just outside the playoffs reckoning with three wins from five appearances. Their NRR of 0.193 holds them superior to fifth-ranked Northern Superchargers, also with six points courtesy of three wins.
Welsh Fire is ranked sixth at the moment with two wins and a dismal NRR of -0.159. Falling to yet another crushing defeat, London Spirit remains unmoved at number seven with a solitary win to its credit. Winless Manchester Originals is yet to register their opening points of the season as they continue to hold the wooden-spoon tag in the standings.
Alex Hales, Rashid Khan show seals it for Rockets
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Trent Rockets cantered themselves to a rollicking start despite losing opening batter Adam Lyth early in the innings to Richard Gleeson. Firebrand opener Tom Banton belted four boundaries and a six in his 25-ball 36-run knock and he shared 69 runs with Alex Hales to lead Rockets’ recovery.
Hales himself clobbered 68 from 42 balls, while Joe Root accumulated 32 off 23 in the middle stages of the innings. After losing wickets towards the death to Gleeson (2/32) and Liam Dawson (1/30), Trent Rockets pinch-hitter Rashid Khan blasted a last-ball six to take them to 166/4 from 100 balls.
In pursuit of a high-octane target, London Spirit raced to 41 runs from just the first 20 balls. Keaton Jennings fired on all cylinders despite losing opening partner Michael Pepper to Imad Wasim. Regardless, Keaton’s pacy start was soon derailed by a three-wicket burst from Rashid Khan.
Trent Rockets’ Afghanistan import dismissed a well-set Jennings, rival captain Dan Lawrence and dangerman Shimron Hetmyer in quick succession as London Spirit crashed from 41/1 to 52/5. Matt Critchley (37 off 30 balls) and Andre Russell (23 off 15 balls) unfurled rapid runs in the middle-order but a runout and Luke Wood’s cleanup job subjugated London Spirit to just 144.
Rashid Khan also added Liam Dawson towards the closing stages of Spirit’s chase to bag figures of 4/24 as Trent Rockets secured an emphatic 22-run victory.
