Trent Rockets men proved too strong for Oval Invincibles at Trent Bridge last night as Alex Hales smashed 59 off 25 balls en-route to the Rockets building their hundred ball innings total of a formidable 181.
After flopping in the loss at Birmingham on Monday, openers Hales and Malan pounced like wounded lions as they raced beyond fifty and into the eighties for a first wicket stand of 84 from just 46 balls, Hales going after six fours and four sixes to the bowling of Mohamad Hasnain caught by Hilton Cartwright.
Malan followed as Trent rocketed past the hundred mark, he went for 38 before Kohler-Cadmore and Tom Munro added further damage to the Surrey based sides bowling attack. TKC out for 13 as he hooked Hasnain to Tom Curran and whilst Daniel Sams lasted just five balls for three runs before getting out to the bowling of Sam Curran, Lewis Gregory then hit 24 from 12 to help the Rockets to a total of 181 with Munro 23 not out.
In response a lot of the talk would be whether Jason Roy could score runs, the England batsman had been in woeful form but he managed to get off the mark with his opening partner Will Jacks seeing blood first, he went bowled by Sam Cook for just eleven with Roy and Sam Curran building a response, until Roy followed suit bowled by Shamsi for just twenty.
Billings then went for a three ball duck lbw to Shamsi before Jordan Cox shown some spirit, he smashed to 61 off 33 balls by close but not before Sam Curran was stumped attempting to sweep Patel by Moores, Curran out for 27 with the score on 78, Sunil Narine gave a plucky 23 before he was caught and bowled by Luke Wood with Cartwright in for one not out seeing just two balls out in the middle.
Oval ended a long way off, 25 runs short of Trent Rockets total finishing on 156-5. The Rockets up to second in the table on eight points, joint with London Spirit who have played a game less, winning all four of their matches so far.
In the women’s match the Rockets managed 112 from their 100 balls with a 59 not out from Nat Sciver. In response, Oval Invincibles clambered to 110 before losing their fifth wicket with just three balls remaining, a quick single for Kirstie White however had the in-form Marizanne Kapp (34 not out) ensure victory through for the away side with a four with just one more remaining ball to spare.
Finally in the Royal London One Day Cup it wasn’t a great day for Nottinghamshire who lost by 14 runs to Warwickshire in a game at Edgbaston reduced to 34 overs a side due to rain. Will Rhodes with a fabulous 113 for the hosts, helping them to set target of more than 271 losing six wickets in the process.
Notts replied with a 47 for Slater, 51 for Hameed and 43 for Liam Patterson-White, but wickets tumbled around them, eventually they were all out for 257 needing just 14 with five balls of the last over remaining.
Next up Notts face Leicestershire at the Uptonsteel County Ground on Saturday in their last group match whilst Trent Rockets host London Spirit on the same day, knowing a win would go a long way to securing their status within those at the top for finals day.
*Main image @TrentBridge Alex Hales provides another storm of runs for the Rockets.
