Trent Rockets opened their men’s Hundred campaign with a clinical six-wicket victory over Birmingham Phoenix at Edgbaston, built on a superb bowling performance spearheaded by New Zealand paceman Lockie Ferguson.
Ferguson’s 3-20 dismantled Phoenix’s top order after David Willey removed Ben Duckett with the new ball. A searing in-swinging yorker from Ferguson trapped Aneurin Donald lbw, leaving the hosts in deep trouble at 26-4. Skipper Liam Livingstone (39) and Joe Clarke (29) fought back with a 63-run stand, but Phoenix could only post 122-6 from their 100 balls
The boys bowled excellently tonight. We nailed our change-ups, hit the yorker well, and those early wickets set us up. Nice to get one under the belt early in the comp.
Banton, Rehan seal the chase
Although Joe Root was bowled early in the reply, Tom Banton’s composed 43 and Rehan Ahmed’s lively 25 from 16 balls kept the Rockets on track. A 51-run partnership between the pair left just scraps for the finish, with Adam Hose striking the winning boundary with 22 balls to spare.
Ferguson credited the squad’s early bonding for the smooth start: “The team’s come together really quickly. We’ve got a quick turnaround to face the Superchargers, so it’s important to back this up for our home fans.”
Phoenix women hold their nerve
Earlier in the day, Birmingham Phoenix’s women held off a fierce late surge from Nat Sciver-Brunt to win by 11 runs. England opener Emma Lamb had powered the hosts to 148-5 with a sparkling 55 off 32 balls, but it was seamer Em Arlott who delivered the telling blows at the death.
Defending 20 from the final five balls, Arlott had Sciver-Brunt — on a dangerous 64 from 40 — caught by Millie Taylor to seal victory. She finished with two key wickets, while Hannah Baker’s 2-18 helped strangle the Rockets’ chase.
Georgia and Emma got us off to a good start in the power-play, which was an area we struggled with last year. And the way we defended — cutting off twos, taking key catches — was excellent. Nat’s always a threat, so the bowlers did their job at exactly the right time.
Bryony Smith (29) had given the Rockets hope early in the chase, but Phoenix’s disciplined bowling and sharp fielding proved decisive.
What’s next
Saturday brings a full slate in The Hundred, with double-headers at both the Kia Oval — where Oval Invincibles host Manchester Originals — and Sophia Gardens, where Welsh Fire welcome London Spirit.
