In a thrilling encounter at Old Trafford, the Manchester Originals narrowly defeated the Trent Rockets by one run in The Hundred women's competition. The match reached a nail-biting climax, with the Rockets needing four runs off the last ball to secure a win. However, England's Nat Sciver-Brunt could only manage two runs, handing the victory to the Originals.
Manchester Originals, having suffered a heavy defeat in their opening match against Welsh Fire, bounced back impressively. They posted a competitive total of 137-6 after being asked to bat first. Key contributions came from Kathryn Bryce, who scored 32, Eve Jones with 34, and a quick-fire 13 from captain Sophie Ecclestone in the final overs.
The Trent Rockets appeared to be on track during their chase, thanks to solid performances from Nat Sciver-Brunt, who remained unbeaten on 56, and Australia's Ash Gardner, who added 36 runs. However, the Originals' bowlers, led by Lauren Filer and Kathryn Bryce, delivered a masterclass in death bowling. In the final 10 balls, they restricted the Rockets to just 22 runs, ultimately securing a thrilling one-run victory.
This win marked the first of the season for the Manchester Originals, while it handed the Trent Rockets their first loss. The Originals' ability to perform under pressure and execute their game plan in the closing stages was instrumental in their success, making this match a memorable contest in the tournament.