The short version
- Trent Rockets defeated MI London by nine wickets, securing their place in the knockout stages of The Hundred with a commanding performance led by captain Nat Sciver-Brunt.
- Manchester Super Giants beat Southern Brave by 27 runs, moving into third place and keeping their postseason hopes alive despite losing on home soil for the first time this season.
- The results leave Sunrisers Leeds and Welsh Fire in contention for the remaining knockout spots, while London Spirit and Birmingham Phoenix have been eliminated from the women's competition.
Trent Rockets have officially qualified for the knockout phase of The Hundred after delivering a comprehensive nine-wicket victory over MI London at The Oval. The win solidifies their position at the top of the standings, placing them four points ahead of second-placed Southern Brave. With a significantly superior net run-rate of +1.601 compared to Brave’s +0.148, the Rockets hold a distinct advantage heading into their final group match against Brave on Monday. This result effectively gives them one foot in the final, as they control their own destiny with minimal risk from other teams' outcomes.
Nat Sciver-Brunt orchestrated the chase with a stylish and aggressive unbeaten innings of 67 runs off just 36 balls. Her knock included nine fours and one six, demonstrating her ability to accelerate quickly under pressure. This was the England captain’s first fifty in this year’s tournament and marks her eleventh half-century in The Hundred overall. Sciver-Brunt shared a crucial partnership with Australian opener Beth Mooney, who contributed an unbeaten 54 off 44 balls. Together, they established a tournament-record second-wicket stand of 118 runs, which dismantled the MI London bowling attack and ensured the target was chased down with 18 balls remaining.
The foundation for the Rockets’ victory was laid by Samantha Bates, who delivered a devastating spell with the ball to restrict MI London to a modest total of 121 for five in their allotted 100 balls. The left-arm spinner claimed three wickets for just 13 runs, including key dismissals that disrupted the middle order. Bates had Hayley Matthews caught behind early on and then took two wickets in consecutive deliveries, leaving MI London struggling at 49 for four. She later trapped top scorer Kira Chathli leg before wicket for 31, further destabilizing the innings.
Despite the early setbacks, MI London mounted a brief recovery thanks to contributions from Alice Monaghan and Chinelle Henry, who both finished unbeaten on 27 runs off 21 balls each. Their partnership helped the team post a respectable total, though it proved insufficient against the Rockets’ firepower. Bates had briefly thought she was on course for a hat-trick when Monaghan was given out leg before wicket, but the decision was overturned upon review after replays showed the ball sliding down the leg side. This reprieve allowed MI London to stabilize slightly, but they could not prevent the comprehensive defeat.
In the other women’s match of the day, Manchester Super Giants secured a 27-run victory over Southern Brave in Southampton, boosting their own hopes of reaching the knockout stages. The Super Giants posted a competitive total of 139 for four after opting to bat first. Richa Ghosh was instrumental in this effort, scoring an explosive 54 runs off 34 balls with five fours and three sixes. Promoted up the order to bat at number three, Ghosh shared a significant stand of 83 runs with fellow Indian international Smriti Mandhana, who contributed 46 runs off 36 balls.
Southern Brave’s chase faltered early as openers Lizelle Lee and Maia Bouchier failed to convert promising starts into substantial scores, finishing on 19 and 16 respectively. Issy Wong played a key role for the Super Giants, claiming the wickets of both Ghosh and Mandhana to finish with figures of 2 for 24. Laura Wolvaardt briefly threatened to turn the game around with a quickfire 36 off 28 balls, but her dismissal by Mady Villiers proved to be the turning point. Villiers was the pick of the bowlers for Manchester, taking three wickets for just 17 runs from her set of 20 balls.
The loss marks the first time Southern Brave have lost on their home turf during this year’s tournament. The result leaves the Super Giants in third place with 18 points, holding a six-point cushion over Sunrisers Leeds and Welsh Fire, who occupy fourth and fifth positions respectively. Both Leeds and Fire remain in contention for the final knockout spot, but they face a critical double-header on Sunday. Sunrisers Leeds will host Welsh Fire at Headingley, while London Spirit welcome Birmingham Phoenix to Lord’s.
The race for the final postseason place remains tight, with both Sunrisers Leeds and Welsh Fire needing to win their upcoming matches to keep their hopes alive. Meanwhile, London Spirit and Birmingham Phoenix have already been eliminated from contention in the women’s competition. In the men’s tournament, Sunrisers and Fire also remain in the hunt for finals qualification, while Spirit and Phoenix are out of contention there as well. The upcoming matches will determine the final composition of the knockout stages, with live coverage available across BBC platforms.
As the group stage draws to a close, the focus shifts to these decisive encounters that will finalize the standings. The Rockets’ dominance and the Super Giants’ resilience highlight the competitive nature of this year’s tournament. With net run-rates playing a crucial role in tie-breakers, every ball counts for the teams still fighting for survival. The coming days will reveal which franchises advance to compete for the ultimate prize, concluding a season marked by high-scoring thrillers and strategic battles.
Fans can follow the action through ball-by-ball commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds, and the BBC Sport website and app. The women’s matches between Spirit and Phoenix will be broadcast live on BBC Two and via iPlayer, with coverage beginning at 14:15 BST. These final group games offer a chance to see which teams can overcome the pressure of must-win situations, adding drama to the conclusion of the league phase before the knockout rounds begin.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC Sport↗Sciver-Brunt guides Rockets to Hundred knockouts, Super Giants beat Brave
