The Trent Rockets secured their place in the knockout phase of The Hundred thanks to a decisive six‑wicket win over MI London, a match in which the partnership between Mitch Santner and Tim David proved pivotal. Chasing a target of 148 runs for what would be their sixth triumph in seven games, the Rockets endured a shaky start. Early wickets fell in quick succession as Finn Allen, Aneurin Donald, Sam Billings and Ben Duckett were dismissed, leaving the side at 70 for four midway through the innings. Despite the early setbacks, the middle order rallied.
Tim David smashed an unbeaten 32 runs off just 24 balls, while Santner contributed a rapid 52 not out from only 23 deliveries, propelling the Rockets to a comfortable finish with ten balls remaining. Their win not only moved them into the knockout round but also widened their lead at the top of the table to eight points. Moreover, they retained a superior net‑run rate over fourth‑placed Welsh Fire, who still have two matches left to play.
MI London’s innings began poorly when they lost opener James Vince and the dynamic Nicholas Pooran almost immediately. After Will Jacks contributed a quick‑fire 39, the home side’s hopes rested heavily on Sam Curran. Curran delivered a spectacular 72‑run knock off 46 balls, peppered with five sixes and four fours.
However, despite his heroics, MI London could only muster 147 for seven, falling short of the Rockets’ total. In the aftermath of the match, Rockets wicket‑keeper Sam Billings expressed his frustration over a confrontation with MI London bowler Richard Gleeson after his wicket fell.
Billings said, "Everyone likes the game being played hard and on the field, but there’s a point when you know the game is finished or the game is won or he’s got me out – I just don’t like that, to be honest. It was the way [Gleeson] kind of apologised on the walk‑off after the game. I love the game being played hard, but I think it was a pretty poor showing.
You can still behave in the right way and be competitive at the same time, so that’s just my opinion but, yeah, it’s even sweeter to get the win today." The day also featured other notable fixtures. Manchester Super Giants bolstered their push for a top‑three finish with a ten‑run victory over Southern Brave at the Utilita Bowl. The Giants posted 149 for eight, anchored by a massive opening stand of 119 runs between Tim Seifert, who made 55 off 34 balls before being run out by Moeen Ali, and Paul Walter, who smashed 64 from just 32 deliveries, hitting six fours and four sixes. In the death overs, Adil Rashid claimed two wickets for 17 runs, but Southern Brave fell short, ending their hopes of reaching the Eliminator.
In the chase, Tristan Stubbs led the way for the Super Giants with an unbeaten 53 off 28 balls, while Jamie Smith and Marcus Stoinis added valuable contributions of 26 and 21 respectively. Southern Brave’s Nikhil Chaudhary offered a brief spark with 19 off 10 balls, yet Gus Atkinson’s superb death‑over bowling secured the Giants’ spot in the top three on net‑run rate.
The schedule continued with a busy four‑match day, featuring two games each at Headingley and Lord’s. SunRisers Leeds opened the day by hosting Welsh Fire, with the women’s match at 11:00 am followed by the men’s at 2:30 pm, both teams fighting for crucial positioning in the closing stages of their respective tournaments.
Later, London Spirit faced Birmingham Phoenix, again with the women’s fixture at 2:30 pm and the men’s at 6:00 pm, as both sides looked to salvage pride after being eliminated from the women's and men's competitions. Fans can follow every remaining match of The Hundred up to the finals on Sunday, 16 August, and enjoy live streaming on NOW without any contractual obligations. The tournament’s blend of high‑octane batting, strategic bowling, and intense rivalries continues to capture the imagination of cricket enthusiasts across the UK, promising more thrilling encounters as the knockout phase approaches.