Trent Rockets secured a convincing win in a high‑stakes clash against Manchester Super Giants at Old Trafford, cementing their position at the summit of The Hundred standings. The decisive moment came when New Zealand’s dynamic batsman Finn Allen delivered a flawless unbeaten innings of 72 runs off just 35 deliveries, propelling the Rockets to chase down a modest target of 138 with 13 balls still remaining.
The chase began shakily for the Rockets. Opening batsman Ben Duckett was dismissed on the very second ball of the innings, caught by his England teammate Gus Atkinson after a poorly timed scoop attempt. The early wicket added pressure on the middle order, and soon after, Tom Banton fell to a well‑timed delivery from Sonny Baker.
With two wickets down, the Rockets needed a steadying influence. Enter Sam Billings, the newly‑signed England international, who joined Allen at the crease. Unfazed by the early setbacks, the pair settled quickly, targeting both spin and seam with a balanced approach. They forged a rapid 50‑run partnership in just 25 balls, showcasing aggressive shot‑making and smart rotation of strike.
Allen, after surviving a close caught‑and‑bowled chance off Liam Dawson at 32, accelerated further, reaching his half‑century in a blistering 23 balls. Billings’ stay was short‑lived; he was eventually dismissed by Atkinson and Tim David, while Baker claimed the wicket of the other newcomer.
Nevertheless, Allen continued to dominate, and was soon joined by New Zealand all‑rounder Mitchell Santner, who contributed a quick‑fire 24 not out from 17 balls. Together, Allen and Santner steered the Rockets home, sealing a six‑wicket victory and ensuring they sit atop the league table. Manchester Super Giants, the hosts, had a promising start to their innings. They posted a solid 38‑0 at the close of the powerplay, but the momentum shifted when Craig Overton struck three crucial wickets in quick succession.
Overton dismissed both openers—Tim Seifert, caught at mid‑off, and Aiden Markram, caught at mid‑on—before removing Heinrich Klaassen for a two‑ball duck on the square‑leg boundary. These early breakthroughs gave the Rockets a foothold.
The pitch proved difficult for batsmen looking to accelerate. Both Jos Buttler and Leus du Plooy struggled against the spin of Mitchell Santner and the varied pace and length delivered by Lewis Gregory. The turning point arrived when du Plooy smashed a six off the final ball of Matt Henry’s spell, followed by a maximum off Mohammad Amir that lifted the Super Giants to 115‑3 with ten balls remaining. In the final overs, the Super Giants rallied.
Buttler struck two fours and a six off Gregory in the last five deliveries, registering his third consecutive half‑century and ending unbeaten on 55. The home side finished at 137‑3, a respectable total, but the explosive performance of Finn Allen made the chase appear routine. His composed yet aggressive batting ensured the Rockets reached the target comfortably. The match was part of a busy weekend of Hundred action, which also featured SunRisers Leeds defeating Birmingham Phoenix by 45 runs, and Phoebe Litchfield recording the fastest fifty in women’s Hundred history as Leeds eliminated Phoenix.
In another highlight, Sikandar Raza’s cameo powered MI London to a derby victory over Spirit, while Jos Buttler etched his name in the record books for Manchester Super Giants. Trent Rockets continued their dominant run with a fifth straight win, a streak underscored by Allen’s Man of the Match award, dubbed the "Meerkat Match Hero".
Reflecting on his innings, Allen said, "It was tough at the start, they bowled well and challenged us, they have a pretty impressive bowling line‑up. I wanted to try and have a good foundation to start off with and absorb pressure where I could." Looking ahead, the weekend promises a double‑header on Saturday, with Birmingham Phoenix hosting Welsh Fire in the women’s match at 11 am, followed by the men’s contest at 2:30 pm. Later that afternoon, at Lord’s, the women’s game between London Spirit and Southern Brave will kick off at 2:30 pm, with the men’s match between the same sides scheduled for 6 pm.
Fans can follow every Hundred fixture through to the finals on Sunday, 16 August, via the NOW platform, which offers contract‑free streaming of all matches and additional cricket content. The tournament continues to deliver thrilling moments, high‑scoring finishes, and standout individual performances, keeping audiences engaged throughout the competition.