In the dramatic men’s Hundred final that took place at Lord’s on Saturday, Trent Rockets skipper Lewis Gregory led from the front as his team overcame Manchester Originals by two wickets with just two balls left to spare. The match was won by Trent Rockets.
In the dramatic men’s Hundred final that took place at Lord’s on Saturday, Trent Rockets skipper Lewis Gregory led from the front as his team overcame Manchester Originals by two wickets with just two balls left to spare. The match was won by Trent Rockets. It appeared as though the conclusion of the second season of the 100 balls per side tournament, which is a controversial innovation in English cricket given the impact that eight specially created teams have had on the schedule of the existing 18 first-class counties, would be a one-sided affair. The tournament is in its second season.
The Rockets limited the Originals to a relatively insignificant 120-9 on a slow pitch, with Australian Ashton Turner’s score of 26 being the highest of the innings. Medium-pacer Sam Cook got 4-18 for the Rockets in this session.
However, England batsman Dawid Malan had the highest score of the Rockets’ reply with 19, while Alex Hales, who is trying to get called back into the national team, was out for just eight.
At the score of 110-8, the Rockets required 11 runs from the final set of five balls bowled by England international Richard Gleeson in order to win the match. The Hundred does not involve regular overs.
Gregory, who is himself an all-rounder for England, immediately blasted Gleeson over mid-off for six runs. He then flicked the subsequent full toss for four runs and then struck the winning runs as he finished 17 not out off just six balls. Gregory’s performance helped England win.
Gregory remarked that it was satisfying to have a role at the conclusion of the game and see the squad through to victory.
A women’s tournament will also be held in conjunction with The Hundred.
Earlier on Saturday, the Oval Invincibles defeated Southern Brave by a score of five wickets to defend their championship. Leading the way for the Oval Invincibles were South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp and England’s rising sensation Alice Capsey.
The Invincibles defeated the Brave in the championship game for the second consecutive year by chasing down a target of 102 with six balls remaining in front of a record crowd of 20,840 at Lord’s, the biggest attendance for a domestic women’s tournament in England.
While the teenaged Capsey, who was the standout performer from the previous year’s event, returned numbers of 2-17 and made a useful 25, the 32-year-old Kapp took 1-19 and is currently leading the chase with 37 not out.
Suzie Bates, the captain of the Invincibles, remarked on how impressive Kapp’s batting was. “She is there at those trying times.”
“There is no doubt in my mind that she is among the very finest all-rounders in the world, and she demonstrated why”
The legendary player from New Zealand praised Capsey as a “big-moment player,” adding that “under pressure you need to be fearless,” which she has demonstrated consistently throughout the season.
