Lauren Bell takes 4-10 and tournament leading wicket-taker Amanda-Jade Wellington 3-18 as the Brave restrict the Rockets to just 88-8; India’s Smriti Mandhana (57no off 31 balls) smashes nine fours and two sixes, the second of them sealing victory with a massive 44 balls still remaining
Last Updated: 25/08/22 6:14pm
Southern Brave made it five wins from five as they hammered Trent Rockets by 10 wickets, severely denting their opponents’ playoff chances in the process.
Story of the match
England fast bowler Lauren Bell – the 21-year-old fresh from making her international debut earlier this summer – returned stunning figures of 4-10 from her 20 balls as the Rockets were restricted to just 88-8 batting first.
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Bell claimed the first of her victims, Bryony Smith, with the second ball of the innings but, despite the early setback, Marie Kelly appeared to lay strong foundations for the visitors with a bright 22 from 15 deliveries – containing three boundaries and a six.
Australia’s Elyse Villani struck a run-a-ball 25, but run-scoring proved challenging despite her and England star batter Nat Sciver’s obvious pedigree, the latter managing only 19 from her 30-ball stay at the crease and failing to find the boundary once.
Trent Rockets 88-8 from 100 balls – Villani (25 off 25 balls), Kelly (22 off 15 balls), Sciver (19 off 30 balls); Bell (4-10 from 20 balls), Wellington (3-18 from 20 balls)
Southern Brave 94-0 from 56 balls – Mandhana (57no off 31 balls), Healy (36no off 25 balls)
Leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington (3-18) – the leading wicket-taker for the tournament – ultimately claimed the wickets of both, sparking a desperate late collapse as the Rockets tried in vain to propel themselves to a more testing target up above 100 – five wickets falling for the addition of just nine runs from the final 21 deliveries of the innings.
The Brave made light work of the chase. England’s Danni Wyatt cracked an unbeaten 36 off 25 deliveries, while India opener Smriti Mandhana smashed nine fours and two sixes in her 57 not out from 31 balls, her second maximum sealing victory in style with a massive 44 balls still remaining.
What’s next?
Next up in The Hundred is a double-header between Welsh Fire and Northern Superchargers in Cardiff on Friday, with the home side looking for a first win in both the women’s and men’s competitions.
The Superchargers are currently on the outside looking in when it comes to qualification for the playoffs. The women’s team currently sit fifth with two wins from four, while the men’s side are one place worse off in sixth following four defeats from their first six games.
Welsh Fire vs Superchargers
August 26, 2022, 3:00pm
Live on
Welsh Fire vs Superchargers
August 26, 2022, 6:30pm
Live on
The women are up first from 3pm, on Sky Sports Mix and via a live stream on skysports.com, the Sky Sports App and the Sky Sports Cricket YouTube channel. The men follow from 6.30pm on Sky Sports The Hundred.
As for the Rockets and the Brave, they are next in action on Monday and Wednesday, respectively, when they in fact take on the Fire and Superchargers in their final group games.
Watch every match from The Hundred this summer live on Sky Sports.
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