THE MENS’ HUNDRED, 2025
Jamie Smith scored a half-century in his team’s victory © Getty
Marcus Stoinis’s all-round effort (2-17 & 22-ball 35*) went in vain as London Spirit registered a clinical 21-run victory over Trent Rockets at Lord’s, on Thursday.
Put in to bat, Spirit lost the in-form opener, David Warner, early. However, Jamie Smith and Kane Williamson crafted a fine 73-run partnership, off only 45 balls, to lay the foundation of Spirit’s massive total.
Smith, who had taken charge with a couple of sixes in the opening set of the game, interestingly played second fiddle to Williamson in the second-wicket partnership, after being dropped on 22. Williamson also rode his luck, but quickly became an aggressor, pulling and cutting Stoinis for a boundary and a six.
Just when Smith threatened to cut loose again, he mistimed a cut to extra cover and departed soon after his half-century. Williamson followed back soon after, getting stumped while attempting to charge at a Rehan Ahmed googly. Ollie Pope and Ashton Turner provided the late charge with a flurry of boundaries as Spirit posted a healthy 162 for 5.
In response, Rockets made a strong start in the chase, with openers Tom Banton and Joe Root stitching a 73-run alliance in only 52 balls. However, there wasn’t much support to follow up and build on that effort. With the required rate mounting, an effort to get the big shots going, backfired. In a space of 14 balls, they lost four wickets, and with it, their momentum in the chase.
Stonis looked to keep Rockets in the chase, but there wasn’t adequate firepower from the other end. Tom Alsop was hit on the face with a Jamie Overton delivery going through his helmet grill, and had to retire hurt. Richard Gleeson snapped Max Holden and Adam Hose.
Despite a few big hits towards the end by Stonis, Rockets’ chase had completely fizzled out by then, handing the side their first loss of the season..
Brief Scores: London Spirit 162/5 in 100 balls (Jamie Smith 52, Kane Williamson 45; Marcus Stoinis 2-27) beat Trent Rockets 141/6 in 100 balls (Tom Banton 46, Marcus Stoinis 35*; Daniel Worrall 2-32) by 21 runs
© Cricbuzz
