From: Ed Mace
Nottingham, 10 August 2026:
The decision to bat Nat Sciver-Brunt at number 7 proved inspired as she led the recovery from 66-5 to steer the Trent Rockets to a three-wicket victory over the Southern Brave at Nottingham.
The Rockets were well placed to qualify in first place, simply needing to avoid a 94-run defeat to hold on to their top spot while the Brave had also guaranteed their berth in the Eliminator.
Opening the batting for the Brave, Maia Bouchier and Lizelle Lee took a tentative approach to the early stage of the game. They faced 24 dot balls between them before Lee was dismissed for 31, meaning they were 52-1 at the halfway mark.
Laura Wolvaardt filling in as captain for Sophie Molineux began to improve the pace of the Brave innings and Bouchier followed suit building a partnership of 46 from 32.
The Rockets soon struck back with the wicket of Wolvaardt leaving the Brave 95-2 with 20 balls remaining. It went from bad to worse for the Brave as Georgia Adams took two in two as Bouchier and Jodi Grewcock had to go. The Brave managed two boundaries in the final set but finished on an under-par 117-5.
Needing just 23 runs to confirm their place at the top the table, the Rockets got off to a shaky start as Tilly Corteen-Coleman scalped Sophia Dunkley. The leaders then stumbled their way to the lowest powerplay score in the history of The Hundred as they reached 10-3 following a dismal run out for Sophie Luff and a leading edge from Beth Mooney.
Ash Gardner and Bess Heath led the recovery to lock in the top spot but compact bowling from the Brave meant that the target of 118 was looking more challenging than it appeared. After 40 balls the Rockets needed 90.
The return of Lauren Bell immediately brought a chance but Sarah Glenn failed to hold on to a ball sent high into the air by Gardner. It proved not to matter as Corteen-Coleman drew a mistimed pull shot that removed Gardner for 37.
Bess Heath was the next to fall, well-set having seen 18 deliveries. She pre-meditated a reverse sweep and spooned the ball straight into the welcome hands of Grewcock. It brought in Sciver-Brunt who was hoping that she would not be required.
NSB showed immediate attacking intent. She took 15 off her England teammate Issy Wong as the Rockets started to assert dominance. Georgia Elwiss played her part as she struck 10 off four before being run-out backing up at the non-striker’s end.
The run-out of Sciver-Brunt late on was not enough to stop the Trent Rockets seeing off the total, marking a sixth consecutive win.
Scores in brief:
Trent Rockets Women beat Southern Brave Women by three wickets
Southern Brave Women 117-5, 20 overs (Maia Bouchier 38, Lizelle Lee 31; Georgia Adams 2-14, Samantha Bates 1-24)
Trent Rockets Women 118-7, 98 balls (Ash Gardner 37, Nat Sciver-Brunt 32; Tilly Corteen-Coleman 2-16, Sarah Glenn 1-19)
Player of the Match: Nat Sciver-Brunt
