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 opening spell, losing four wickets—Finn Allen, Aneurin Donald, Sam Billings and Ben Duckett—while the scoreboard read just 70 runs midway through the innings. The early setbacks could have derailed their chase, but the middle order stepped up dramatically.
Tim David, who had already shown his aggressive intent throughout the tournament, contributed an unbeaten 32 runs off just 24 balls. His quick scoring kept the required run‑rate in check and built momentum for the final overs.
At the other end, Santner delivered a composed yet explosive innings, scoring 52 runs from only 23 balls. His strike‑rate, combined with David's firepower, propelled the Rockets to a comfortable finish with ten deliveries remaining, sealing a six‑wicket win that cemented their knockout spot. The victory also widened the Rockets' lead at the top of the league table, giving them an eight‑point advantage over their nearest rivals. Moreover, they retain a superior net‑run rate compared with fourth‑placed Welsh Fire, who still have two games left to play.
This cushion means the Rockets can afford a modest slip in form and still remain in a commanding position heading into the final stages. MI London, on the other hand, faced a difficult afternoon.
Their opening partnership collapsed quickly as opener James Vince fell early, followed by a rapid dismissal of Nicholas Pooran. The loss of these key batsmen put immediate pressure on the home side. After Will Jacks contributed a brisk 39 runs, the innings seemed to regain some balance, but the tide turned when Sam Curran arrived at the crease. Curran displayed his trademark power hitting, smashing five sixes and four fours in a 46‑ball blast that produced 72 runs.
Despite his heroic effort, MI London could only muster a total of 147 for 7, falling short by a single run. The post‑match scene featured a heated exchange between Rockets' Sam Billings and MI London bowler Richard Gleeson. Billings expressed his frustration at what he perceived as unsportsmanlike conduct, stating, "Everyone likes the game being played hard and on the field, but there's a point when you know certainly when the game's finished or the game's 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." Billings' comments highlighted the fine line between aggressive competition and respect for the spirit of cricket.
Elsewhere in the tournament, the Manchester Super Giants bolstered their push for a top‑three finish by edging Southern Brave by ten runs at the Utilita Bowl. The Giants posted a total of 149‑8, anchored by a massive opening stand of 119 runs between Tim Seifert and Paul Walter.
Seifert struck 55 runs from 34 balls before being run‑out by Moeen Ali, while Walter added a quick‑fire 64 off 32 balls, peppered with six fours and four sixes. The innings concluded with a few late wickets, including a tidy 2‑17 spell from Adil Rashid, but the target proved just beyond the Brave's reach, ending their hopes of qualifying for the Eliminator.
In the chase, Tristan Stubbs led the charge for the Super Giants with an unbeaten 53 from 28 balls, supported by Jamie Smith's 26 and Marcus Stoinis' 21. Although Nikhil Chaudhary offered a brief spark for the Brave with 19 runs off 10 balls, it was Gus Atkinson's death‑over bowling that sealed the win, lifting the Giants further up the table on net‑run‑rate.
The day's action continued with two more double‑headers. At Headingley, SunRisers Leeds hosted Welsh Fire, featuring a women's match at 11 am followed by the men's contest at 2:30 pm, both teams vying for crucial points as the season draws to a close. Later at Lord's, London Spirit faced Birmingham Phoenix, again with women's and men's fixtures (2:30 pm and 6 pm respectively). Both sides have already been eliminated from their respective competitions, but pride and the opportunity to finish the tournament on a high note still motivated the players.
Fans can follow every remaining game of The Hundred, culminating in the finals on Sunday, 16 August, via the NOW streaming platform, which offers contract‑free access to live coverage, highlights, and key moments. The tournament's blend of explosive batting, strategic bowling, and occasional on‑field drama continues to capture the imagination of cricket enthusiasts across the UK and beyond.