The Trent Rockets shattered the Manchester Super Giants' flawless start to The Hundred with a commanding 31‑run win at Old Trafford Cricket Ground, a triumph powered by twin half‑centuries from Sophia Dunkley and Sophie Luff and a decisive four‑wicket spell from Ash Gardner. Chasing a modest target of 154, the Super Giants stumbled almost immediately.
On the seventh ball of their innings, the dangerous Smriti Mandhana was caught stumped for just four runs off a delivery from Samantha Bates. That early dismissal set the tone, and the visitors quickly slumped to 31 for three. Meg Lanning, who had struggled to find the strike in the opening overs, finally asserted herself against Katie Levick's leg‑spin, playing a series of aggressive shots that hinted at a possible recovery.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically when Ash Gardner broke through Lanning's resistance, trapping her lbw for 35 and leaving the Super Giants reeling at 89 for five. Gardner then turned her attention to the field, taking a spectacular catch at long‑off to dismiss Kathryn Bryce, who had contributed 27 runs.
The catch not only removed a set batter but also heightened the pressure on the home side. A brief resurgence was sparked by late‑order power‑hitting from Maitlan Brown, who kept the Super Giants' hopes alive with a flurry of boundaries.
Yet her innings was cut short when Georgia Adams effected a run‑out, effectively snuffing out any remaining chance of a comeback. Gardner sealed the victory with an impressive final spell, finishing with figures of 4 for 16. On the Rockets' side, the early loss of Beth Mooney—bowled by Grace Ballinger after a mistimed pull that failed to rise—could have been a setback, but the team rallied. Sophie Luff, promoted to number three in the absence of the injured Nat Sciver‑Brunt, and Sophia Dunkley took charge.
Luff employed her feet expertly, driving a leg‑side maximum off Sophie Ecclestone and then targeting Bryce, who was dispatched for three consecutive fours. Both openers then accelerated, each dispatching the aggressive bowler Villiers for sixes over the mid‑wicket fence, building a rapid 50‑run partnership in just 33 balls. Luff celebrated her maiden half‑century in The Hundred, reaching 51 before falling shortly thereafter.
Dunkley followed suit, crafting a composed 57 before being caught at point off Ecclestone's bowling. Their partnership laid the foundation for a total that comfortably surpassed the 150‑run mark, a score that proved too lofty for the Super Giants to chase. The match also featured a series of ancillary headlines from the broader competition: Ben Duckett shone as the Rockets defeated SunRisers Leeds to maintain their position at the top of the men's table, while Rashid Khan claimed a five‑wicket haul for MI London. England Test captain Joe Root made an impact in the women's game as Welsh Fire fell to Birmingham Phoenix, and Southern Brave secured a narrow victory over Birmingham Phoenix in the men's 2026 competition.
In another highlight, the left‑arm spinner for the Rockets dismissed Bess Heath for a golden duck, and Villiers was stumped for five by Gardner, illustrating the depth of the Rockets' bowling attack. Despite a spirited fightback from the Super Giants, they could not prevent the Rockets from posting a formidable total.
Reflecting on her innings, Dunkley admitted, "I found the pitch a bit tricky. It wasn't my best fluency. I tried to use the angles because I found it hard to hit down the ground." She also praised her teammate, saying, "Luffy was outstanding as well. Just came in, got the momentum and us to a really good score." Looking ahead, the weekend promises a double‑header on Saturday, with Birmingham Phoenix hosting Welsh Fire in both the women's (11:00 am) and men's (2:30 pm) fixtures.
Later that day, at 2:30 pm, London Spirit will face Southern Brave in a women's match at Lord's, followed by the men's contest at 6:00 pm. Fans can continue to follow every match of The Hundred through to the finals on Sunday, August 16, with live coverage available on NOW, offering contract‑free streaming of the tournament.