Manchester Originals 120/9-121/8 Trent Rockets (The Hundred Final) 03.09.22
Trent Rockets are champions of the second ever edition of the Hundred after beating Manchester Originals in a closely fought contest at Lords.
After topping their league stage with six wins and two defeats, the Rockets launched themselves into a final berth ahead of the third placed Originals facing second spot London Spirit in an eliminator match on Friday in Southampton, a game in which Manchester comfortably won.
With a packed house at Lords already in full voice having seen Oval Invicibles women beat Southern Brave to take the female Hundred title earlier in the day, the Originals upon toss decided to bat themselves, but may have regretted the call after some good early bowling by the Rockets.
Laurie Evans first to go with just thirteen on the board, Sam Cook doing the damage catching the Originals skipper out lbw for just four. Madsen was next, bowled by Cook for just three, Manchester suddenly 18 for 2.
Another wicket fell with the score on 22 as Sams had Salt caught by Gregory for eleven, a rallying call by Stubbs and Turner had Manchester hit the half century before Samit Patel did his bit with the ball, first taking Stubbs caught behind on 18, then a ball later having Walter caught by Malan on a duck, Turner was next going for 26 with the Originals 75/6.
Manchester did eventually make the hundred mark before losing Lamonby for a quick 21. Cook again too quick as he bowled through the guard, Hartley was next as Luke Wood got in on the act, Cook taking his third of the match, bowling Gleeson with another quicky, with just five balls remaining, the Originals totalling an achievable 120 for the loss of all but one of their wickets.
In response, Alex Hales went early-doors after scoring eight, but Tom Kohler-Cadmore restored some parity with tournament highest scorer Dawid Malan. Eventually going for a run a ball eighteen before Malan (19) worryingly followed. The Rockets 49 for 3 off 46 balls and comfortably in the driving seat.
Colin Munro pushed the score along with a quickfire sixteen as Trent homed in, but quick wickets for the Originals kept them within a shout. Parkinson taking Munro’s wicket before Patel went to Hartley for just nine, Moores then lost his wicket having scored sixteen with Trent still needing 24 from the last 15 balls to win the match.
As nerves jangled and tensions heightened Daniel Sams got out caught Stubbs bowled Hartley on 13 before Matt Carter went for a duck, the Rockets with two wickets remaining needing fourteen from eight balls, enter Lewis Gregory, captain marvel, smashing 17 off 6 with the help of Luke Wood, one not out, to take the tie away, with just two balls remaining.
The Rockets win, after finishing third last year and reaching the Eliminator match, they are champions, for the first time, with a batting line-up that has sparkled this summer thanks to the likes of Malan and Hales, thanks to the bowling, electric of Sam Cook and Luke Wood, a sensational team performance to create history in a tournament growing in popularity for each game is played.
The Rockets and the Hundred will no doubt be back in 2023 where the defending champions will look to go again with even more explosive white ball cricket.
Trent Rockets: Hales, Malan, Munro, Kohler-Cadmore, Moores, Patel, Gregory (c), Sams, Wood, Carter, Cook.
Manchester Originals: Salt, Evans (c), Madsen, Walter, Stubbs, Turner, Lammonby, Hartley, Gleeson, Little, Parkinson.
Venue: Lords
*Main image @TrentBridge the Rockets launch the Hundred trophy into the night sky.
