In a thrilling contest at Edgbaston, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Ash Gardner showcased their skills to secure a nerve-jangling victory for the Trent Rockets against the Birmingham Phoenix. The rockets emerged victorious by three wickets in a must-win encounter which kept them in the hunt for a spot in the knock-outs.
The match started with Birmingham Phoenix winning the toss and opting to bat, aiming to keep their season alive. However, they had to shuffle their batting order due to the absence of Sophie Devine. The decision backfired as the Phoenix lost early wickets, including their captain Ellyse Perry, Fran Wilson, and Amy Jones. Sciver-Brunt expressed her satisfaction with her bowling performance, stating, “I was very happy with how the ball came out today.”
Despite the early setbacks, Phoenix found resilience in Sterre Kalis and Richa Ghosh, who stitched together a crucial partnership of 95 runs for the fourth wicket. Ghosh contributed 41 runs while Kalis scored 47, taking the hosts to a total of 112 for 6. Sciver-Brunt and Gardner played pivotal roles in restricting the opposition, with Sciver-Brunt finishing with figures of 2 for 16.
Chasing the target, the Rockets faced early jolts as Bryony Smith and Nat Wraith were dismissed quickly. However, the arrival of the in-form Sciver-Brunt at the crease boosted their confidence. With Sciver-Brunt and Gardner anchoring the chase, the visitors seemed to be cruising towards victory until a flurry of wickets in the 70-80 ball range added a twist to the tale.
A tense moment arose when a debatable no-ball call saved Josie Groves, who went on to play a decisive role in seeing the Rockets cross the finish line. Katie George provided valuable support to Groves, ensuring that the Rockets kept their hopes alive in the Hundred tournament.
Overall, it was a hard-fought battle between two determined teams, with the Rockets ultimately emerging triumphant in a nail-biting finish. The win not only boosted their chances in the competition but also highlighted the talent and grit of their players in crunch situations.
