In a thrilling encounter at Cardiff, the Trent Rockets secured a comfortable eight‑wicket victory over the Welsh Fire, marking their second win of the season in The Hundred women's competition. The Australian wicket‑keeper‑batter Beth Mooney was the standout performer, smashing a rapid 57 runs off just 35 deliveries to lay the foundation for a successful chase of 130 runs. The Fire had been restricted to 129 for 3 in their full allotment of 100 balls, setting the stage for the Rockets to pursue a modest target.
Mooney opened the innings alongside England’s dynamic all‑rounder Sophia Dunkley, who contributed a brisk 15 off 17 balls. The opening partnership blossomed into a 75‑run stand, providing the Rockets with a solid platform. After Dunkley’s dismissal, Mooney continued her on‑fire form, reaching her half‑century in just 27 balls as she was joined by the experienced Nat Sciver‑Brunt.
Mooney’s aggressive stroke‑play and crisp running between the wickets kept the pressure on the Fire bowlers, and she eventually fell to Em Arlott’s delivery after a well‑timed shot. Sciver‑Brunt, the England captain, took charge of the chase after Mooney’s dismissal, adding 37 runs without loss from 23 balls.
She was ably supported by Ash Gardner, who contributed a quick 10 runs off 9 balls. The partnership propelled the Rockets to the finish line with 17 balls to spare, sealing a comprehensive win.
The Fire’s innings, however, never truly got going. After winning the toss, they elected to bat but quickly lost both openers—Georgia Voll (18) and Ella McCaughan (6)—within the first nine deliveries, leaving them at a precarious 28 for 2 after 41 balls. Freya Kemp attempted to revive the innings with a fluent 36 not out off 29 balls, hitting four fours, while captain Sophie Devine added 38 off 25 balls, including two fours and two sixes. Despite their efforts, the Fire could only muster 129 runs, falling short of a competitive total and suffering their second defeat of the campaign.
In related news, the men’s competition produced a dramatic tie between MI London and London Spirit on a sweltering afternoon in the capital. Both sides finished on exactly 151 runs, leaving MI London still searching for their first victory of the season and perched precariously with just two points from four matches, jeopardising their knockout hopes. MI London’s chase appeared promising early on. Kiwi star Melie Kerr opened the innings with an explosive 49 off 32 balls, exploiting the off‑side and setting a brisk tempo.
The final overs belonged to Jamaican powerhouse Chinelle Henry, who smashed an astonishing 33 runs from only 12 balls. The duo compiled a rapid 55‑run partnership off 23 deliveries, with Henry finishing off the innings by striking 16 runs off the last three balls bowled by Nadine de Klerk, propelling MI London to a total of 151. London Spirit responded with determination. After an early wicket that saw Henry’s initial strike dismissed, Marie Kelly steadied the ship, playing an elegant 45 off 25 balls.
She then handed the reins to South African all‑rounder Marizanne Kapp, who contributed a quickfire 25 in a 51‑run partnership with England’s Amy Jones. Jones anchored the chase, but a top‑edge off Hayley Matthews’ off‑spin saw her dismissed when 27 runs were required from 22 balls. The final overs were a nail‑biter. Nicola Carey, renowned for her fielding prowess, took a safe catch off a hard sweep from Jones, leaving the Spirit needing nine runs from the last five balls.
Matthews faced Deandra Dottin, her fellow Barbadian teammate, and Dottin struck a boundary off the first ball and a second four to the extra‑cover region. De Klerk then dismissed Kerr at deep mid‑wicket, and a single brought Dottin back on strike with three runs needed from the final delivery.
Demonstrating composure, Dottin lofted the ball to the leg side, ran two, and secured the tie for London Spirit, keeping their campaign barely alive. Reflecting on the match, Mooney praised her side’s all‑round effort, stating, "It was a good, all‑round performance from everyone – 130 was probably about par but one big partnership was going to win that game, and it did in the end. When you're chasing a total like that, it's pretty good to break the back of the chase as early as you can and thankfully we did that." Marie Kelly, the match hero for the Spirit, expressed mixed emotions after the tie: "I was so nervous sitting on the side, not being able to do anything about it.
I feel a bit flat that we've tied that one. We were in a great position at one stage but they pulled it back really well.
It's a strange feeling." Looking ahead, Southern Brave will host Birmingham Phoenix on Thursday, with the women's fixture kicking off at 3 pm followed by the men's game at 6:30 pm, both broadcast live on Sky Sports. Fans can also stream The Hundred and additional cricket content on the NOW platform, ensuring continuous access to the tournament's excitement.