Trent Rockets kept their playoff aspirations alive with a decisive 24-run victory over Southern Brave in the women's Hundred competition at the Utilita Bowl.
The Rockets posted a formidable total of 155, highlighted by an unbeaten 60 from England all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt, which proved too much for Brave to chase, despite a late surge from Chloe Tryon.
Opting to bat first, the Rockets faced an early setback when Linsey Smith was run out on the first ball of the innings, followed by Nat Wraith being bowled by Lauren Cheatle for 12. However, Sciver-Brunt stabilised the innings, forming crucial partnerships—62 runs with Grace Scrivens (36) and 33 runs with Ash Gardner (18)—to put the Rockets in a commanding position.
Lauren Bell struck back for Brave, claiming three wickets in the closing stages of the innings, including consecutive dismissals of Australian internationals Heather Graham and Alana King.
Southern Brave’s chase began poorly, with teenager Alexa Stonehouse removing key batters Danni Wyatt and Maia Bouchier for ducks within the first four balls. Smriti Mandhana attempted to rebuild the innings, scoring 42, but her dismissal triggered a collapse, with three wickets falling in the space of seven balls, leaving Brave struggling at 86-6 with just 24 balls left.
Chloe Tryon made a valiant effort to close the gap, smashing 47 with four boundaries and two sixes, but her efforts fell short, and Brave finished well below the target.
As a result of this win, the Rockets move up to fifth place, just one point behind the third-placed London Spirit and fourth-placed Oval Invincibles, both of whom are tied on seven points. All three teams have two matches remaining, while Brave have already been eliminated from the competition.
Notably, Sciver-Brunt’s 60 runs allowed her to surpass Danni Wyatt as the tournament’s leading run-scorer, with 269 runs compared to Wyatt’s 225. Bell, meanwhile, might feel some frustration after failing to dismiss Sciver-Brunt when she was on 37, as a delivery that ricocheted off bat and boot hit the stumps but didn’t dislodge the bails.