Sophia Dunkley’s explosive 56 runs off just 33 deliveries powered the Trent Rockets to a narrow five‑run triumph over SunRisers Leeds in The Hundred match at Trent Bridge. Dunkley’s dominant knock set the tone early, and she was supported by a quickfire 33 from fellow England international Nat Sciver‑Brunt, who faced 25 balls, as well as a brief cameo from Bess Heath. Together they posted a respectable total of 139 for 7 after the allotted 100 balls, a score that was modest but certainly defendable.
The home side’s Australian ace Ash Gardener, returning figures of 1 for 18, made an immediate impact by dismissing Trent’s opening batter Bryony Smith for just 10 runs off 12 balls. Gardener kept the pressure on, curbing the scoring of the SunRisers’ top order – Jess Jonassen managed 19 from 18 deliveries and Phoebe Litchfield added 24 from 22 – leaving Leeds well behind the required run‑rate at 73 for 3 after 64 balls.
A spark of hope arrived when Annabel Sutherland unleashed a blistering 59‑not‑out off only 30 balls, injecting momentum into the chase. However, the Rockets’ death‑overs bowling, anchored by Kim Garth’s tidy spell of 0 for 26, held firm. Even though Sutherland struck a maximum on the final ball, the Rockets managed to cling to their lead and clinch the win. The victory solidifies Trent Rockets’ strong standing, keeping them in second place on the league table.
Meanwhile, SunRisers Leeds, now sitting seventh, suffer another setback that threatens their chances of reaching the Eliminator stage. In a separate fixture, Manchester Super Giants reinforced their third‑place position with a comfortable six‑wicket win over MI London. MI London, still win‑less and anchored at the bottom of the table, lost the toss and were forced to bat first, a situation made more challenging by the absence of Danni Wyatt‑Hodge, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament.
The opening overs proved disastrous for MI London. Sophie Ecclestone, making her first opening spell of the season, struck early wickets, removing both Alice Davidson‑Richards and Hayley Matthews within the first eight balls, leaving the hosts at 1 for 2. Ecclestone’s spell was both economical and incisive – she bowled 20 deliveries for just seven runs, mirroring the sting she delivered against London Spirit at Lord's earlier in the season.
In addition to her tight bowling, Ecclestone took two catches and executed a direct‑hit run‑out, though the overall fielding effort was a collective one. Every Super Giants bowler contributed, keeping MI London under constant pressure, while captain Meg Lanning orchestrated the field with three catches of her own. When it was Lanning’s turn with the bat, she partnered with Smriti Mandhana to steer the chase.
The pair accumulated a modest seven runs in the first ten balls, then accelerated to 35 in the powerplay, showcasing a textbook approach to chasing a modest target. Mandhana added a classy 34 as the score reached 73, after which the outcome seemed inevitable. MI London’s Melie Kerr attempted a late‑innings revival, dismissing Richa Ghosh and Paige Scholfield, but a further wicket fell when Lanning was given out lbw for 43. Mady Villiers then struck the winning boundary, sealing a four‑point victory for the Super Giants and cementing their belief that they will remain contenders as the competition heads into its decisive phase.
Ecclestone reflected on her performance in a post‑match interview with Sky Sports Cricket, saying, "I was thrilled to bowl in the powerplay and get a few wickets. It was about match‑ups to Hayley and I came on early. We've got a good bowling attack, we have a great line‑up and hope our good form continues. Nice to get straight in the powerplay, hope Meg gives me more opportunities there." In related news, England’s medical team has confirmed that batter Danni Wyatt‑Hodge will miss the rest of The Hundred after sustaining a left calf tear during her unbeaten 52‑run innings in a narrow defeat to Southern Brave on July 27.
The injury was confirmed after scans and assessments, and MI London have replaced her in the squad with Ella Claridge. Wyatt‑Hodge now faces a tight timeline to recover in time for England’s upcoming three‑match ODI series against Ireland in September. Fans can continue to follow every match of The Hundred up to the finals on Sunday, August 16, with live streaming available on NOW, offering contract‑free access to all action, highlights, and exclusive content.