The Trent Rockets halted the Manchester Super Giants' flawless start to The Hundred with a commanding 31-run win at Old Trafford Cricket Ground, a triumph driven by twin half-centuries from Sophia Dunkley and Sophie Luff and a decisive four‑wicket spell by Ash Gardner. Chasing a modest target of 154, the Super Giants stumbled early when their star batter Smriti Mandhana was dismissed on the seventh ball of the innings, stumped for just four runs by wicket‑keeper Samantha Bates.
That early blow left them reeling at 31 for three wickets, and the pressure began to mount. Meg Lanning, who had found herself on the back foot during the initial overs, finally asserted herself against Katie Levick's leg‑spin, playing a more aggressive stroke and hinting at a potential recovery. However, Ash Gardner turned the tide decisively.
She dismissed Lanning leg‑before‑wicket for 35, reducing the Super Giants to 89 for five and triggering a collapse. Gardner then switched to the field, taking a spectacular catch at long‑off to dismiss Kathryn Bryce for 27, further denting the visitors' hopes. Late‑order hitting from Maitlan Brown kept the chase alive for a while, but a crucial run‑out by Georgia Adams ended Brown's innings and effectively sealed the match. Gardner capped her spell with figures of 4‑16, finishing the innings with a lethal combination of accuracy and pace.
The Rockets' innings began with a setback when their opening batter Beth Mooney was bowled by Grace Ballinger after a mistimed pull shot that never left the ground. In the absence of Nat Sciver‑Brunt, who was sidelined with a calf injury, Sophie Luff stepped in at number three and, alongside Dunkley, took charge of the run‑chase. Luff displayed deft footwork, guiding the ball to Sophie Ecclestone for a leg‑side maximum and then targeting Bryce, who fell for three consecutive fours.
Both batters then accelerated, dispatching the bowler Villiers for a six over mid‑wicket, and they built a rapid 50‑run partnership in just 33 deliveries. Luff celebrated her maiden half‑century in The Hundred, eventually being dismissed for 51 after a brief cameo. Dunkley followed suit, reaching her own fifty before being caught at point off Ecclestone's bowling for a well‑made 57. Their partnership not only steadied the Rockets after an early wicket but also propelled the team past the 150‑run mark, a score that proved too lofty for the Super Giants to chase.
The left‑arm spinner for the Rockets contributed by dismissing Bess Heath for a duck, while Villiers was stumped for five by Gardner, leaving the Super Giants reeling at three wickets for five runs in a brief but spirited fightback. Despite their effort, they could not contain the Rockets, who posted a total well above 150. Post‑match, Dunkley reflected on the conditions, noting, "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 a women's fixture at 11:00 am followed by the men's game at 2:30 pm.
Later that afternoon, at 2:30 pm, London Spirit will take on Southern Brave at Lord's in the women's match, with the men's contest kicking off at 6:00 pm. Fans can continue to follow every match of The Hundred through to the finals on Sunday, 16 August, with live coverage available on NOW and other streaming platforms.
Overall, the Rockets' blend of aggressive batting, disciplined bowling, and sharp fielding underscored their fifth consecutive win, reinforcing their position at the top of the table and highlighting the impact of emerging talents like Dunkley, Luff, and Gardner in the women's competition.