Australia’s vice-captain has led Trent Rockets into the final of The Hundred, while Marcus Stoinis starred for the Brave
Ashleigh Gardner’s Trent Rockets have booked a place in the final of the Women’s Hundred with a seventh win in eight group games, underlining their supremacy with a three-wicket victory over second-placed Southern Brave at Trent Bridge.
“I feel we have played some really consistent cricket through the tournament to put us in position to win the title,” said Gardner. “Going into the final is pretty pleasing.
“We have a lot of experience. Different people stood up at different times so we are not relying on the same people all the time.”
Gardner has stood up more than most and the Australian top-scored with 37 off 25 balls as the Rockets recovered from a poor Powerplay in which they were 3-10 after 25 balls.
Nat Sciver-Brunt, batting at No.7 to protect her calf, then made 32 off 19 to all-but seal victory.
Brave, who were without their skipper, Sophie Molineux, due to an upset stomach, now go into Friday’s eliminator, for which the Australia captain should be fit.
They will face either Sunrisers Leeds, with their triumvirate of Aussies in Annabel Sutherland, Phoebe Litchfield and Jess Jonassen, or Meg Lanning’s Manchester Giants. The pair meet at Old Trafford on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) in what is effectively a qualifier for the eliminator.
Brave were sent in to bat by Gardner knowing they needed to win by at least 90 runs to overtake Rockets.
With scores this season rarely topping 150 that always seemed unlikely and they never looked like piling up a total of the size required.
Maya Bouchier top-scored with 38, Lizelle Lee made 31 and Charli Knott an unbeaten 15 off ten balls as they tallied 5-117. Kim Garth took 1-25 in her 20 balls and Gardner 0-21 off 15.
Brave thus had to dismiss Rockets for 26 or less, which was implausible even after the terrible start, which owed much to fine bowling from young left-armer Tilly Corteen-Coleman (2-16 off 20), who also dismissed Gardner.
The lack of intensity in the game showed in some mediocre fielding, with even Beth Mooney uncharacteristically missing stumping Bouchier on 15. Gardner both suffered from a dropped catch when bowling and benefited from one when batting.
The end, perhaps, was fitting, Garth edging Knott for four through the vacant slip area.
Should the pair meet in Sunday’s final (Monday AEST) the tension will be much higher.
Stoinis wins battle of Aussie power hitters in Hundred
Marcus Stoinis has hit a 25-ball 46 to help give Southern Brave a consolation win and put Trent Rockets’ place in the Hundred Men’s final in jeopardy.
Stoinis and South African Tristan Stubbs put on 70 in 41 balls to turn a match that was going the league leaders’ way.
Brave were already eliminated from contention but the Rockets needed a win to seal a place in the final. Now they need results to go their way to avoid the eliminator.
Put in to bat, the Rockets made 5-158 thanks to a late flurry from New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner (35 not out in 23 balls).
Stoinis took 1-29 from his 20 balls and Nikhil Chaudhary 1-20 from 15 but both were outshone by uncapped veteran Dan Worrell.
Included as one of three changes – with Jofra Archer rested ahead of England’s Test series with Pakistan – Worrell took 1-21, bowling 20 of the first 30 balls.
None of the Rockets’ top order really got going, Kiwi Finn Allen with 23 off 12 doing best.
Tim David was among those to struggle. The Australian international admitted beforehand he had found six-hitting difficult in the Hundred where the wickets are less batter-friendly than the IPL or Big Bash and outfields larger than in Asia.
David went on to make 15 off 12 with one six before skying one off Adil Rashid.
England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith (26 off 18) gave Brave a strong start in reply but they were 3-78 off 52 when Stoinis came in, leaving them with 81 needed off 48 and the ball getting softer.
He smoked hit his first three balls, from much-touted young English legspinner Calvin Harrison, for six-four-six and Brave never looked back.
The West Australian looked set to take Brave to victory and complete a half-century only to cloth a full toss to wide mid-off.
In came Chaudhary with 11 required off seven, but he was able to enjoy a ringside seat as Stubbs hit a six to win the match with three balls to spare.
