Joe McConnell
On Saturday, after rain fell at the Utilita Bowl against Welsh Fire, Southern Brave secured their place in The Hundred men’s knockout competition at the Kia Oval.
The Braves came into the game knowing that one point would guarantee their presence in Saturday’s showdown, but at the halfway point, with 181 points scored by the already eliminated Fire, they may have feared losing control of their destiny.
Two quick wickets – Alex Davies for a duck and then James Vince for 19 – further set Brave back. But after Vince’s dismissal, with rain falling steadily, the umpires sent the players off.
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David Willey takes a wicket after just two balls for Welsh Fire against Southern Brave
The rain never let up and, as only 16 balls had been bowled in the Braves’ innings (at least 25 balls are needed to get a result), the match was duly abandoned.
It was a bitter pill for the Fire to swallow. With the bat they were unstoppable, with Luke Wells and Glenn Phillips particularly destructive, sharing a 76-run partnership from just 30 balls to propel the Fire to their highest ever score in the tournament.
Wells recorded only his second fifty of the competition, while Phillips hit five sixes (including a square-leg shot off Jofra Archer that travelled 102 metres) for a total of 48 off just 19 balls.
For the Braves, only Akeal Hosein managed to avoid punishment: the West Indies left-hander conceded just 21 of his 20 balls.
Ultimately, it was irrelevant. The Brave qualify to face either the Oval Invincibles, Northern Superchargers or Birmingham Phoenix, with the latter’s game against Manchester Originals on Thursday determining the final standings at the top.
Player of the Match – James Vince
“Bowling first, things probably got a little out of hand. We were a little sloppy. Some good players started and we couldn’t stop them, so it would have been difficult to chase them,” Vince said.
“We had a few messages saying the weather was going to get worse, so we discussed how to deal with the first 25 balls, and luckily the rain came just in time.
“Overall, the bowling group gets a lot of recognition during the tournament. They are quality, experienced bowlers. Our batting goes a bit under the radar. We wish we had a few more fit guys, but overall we’ve been pretty consistent.”
Consolation win at home for the Rockets
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The Oval Invincibles made a series of mistakes that may have cost them dearly against the Trent Rockets
Trent Rockets earned a consolation home win over the Oval Invincibles thanks to a spectacular performance from Rovman Powell.
Arriving at the crease with 95 runs needed from 52 balls and with the Rockets trailing by three wickets, Powell combined with Tom Alsop in an 80-run effort to take the Rockets towards the Invincibles’ total of 150.
Powell hit four sixes, including one off Sam Curran that travelled 101 metres, before the Englishman induced Powell to misdirect a shot over the long-off.
The Jamaican’s ejection left the Rockets needing to score 15 points from 10 balls, but Alsop and Chris Green led the home team to victory with a six-ball advantage.
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Rovman Powell hits four huge sixes in his innings
Opting to bat first on an in-order delivery, Invincibles opener Dawid Malan made a composed half-century, batting through the innings for an unbeaten 53 (43) to allow the batsmen to open up around him.
Will Jacks’ quickfire 30 came from 17 balls, before Jordan Cox made a 30-ball 39 in a 71-run partnership with Malan.
Cox succumbed to Sam Cook, whose 2-23 numbers were the cheapest among Rockets players, but Donovan Ferreira’s undefeated 27 from just 10 balls produced three consecutive sixes and lifted the Invincibles to 150-3.
Saqib Mahmood, who bowled 15 of the first 20 balls of the Rockets’ innings, was fast and aggressive, regularly touching 88mph and taking the wicket of Tom Banton in his opening spell.
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Donovan Ferreira Hits Three Sixes in Three Balls Against Trent Rockets
Alex Hales, on 35, misjudged a shot to gift Jacks his first wicket, and Joe Root bowled a leg-break from Nathan Sowter to long-on for 12, leaving Trent 56-3 after 48 balls.
But Powell and Alsop took the lead and the hosts won by six runs.
The Invincibles will now await the result of Thursday’s final group game to find out whether they will play the Eliminator at The Oval or progress directly to Sunday’s final at Lord’s.
What will happen now?
The Cento continues on Thursday 15th August with a clash between Birmingham Phoenix AND Manchester Originals.
The women’s match will be available to watch on Vscek Main Event and Vscek Cricket from 2.30pm, the first match at 3pm and the men’s match on Vscek Main Event and Vscek Cricket from 6pm.
Vscek+ has officially launched and will be integrated into Sky TV, the NOW streaming service and the Vscek app, giving Vscek customers access to over 50 percent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.
