Trent Rockets ended the Manchester Super Giants’ unbeaten start to The Hundred after handing them a 31-run defeat at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground thanks to half-centuries from Sophia Dunkley and Sophie Luff and a four-wicket haul by Ash Gardner.
Chasing 154, Super Giants lost a wicket from the seventh ball of the chase when the dangerous Smriti Mandhana was stumped for 4 off Samantha Bates. They quickly found themselves 31-3, but Meg Lanning, starved of the strike in the early exchanges, put her foot down against the leg-spin of Katie Levick and began to look threatening.
Ash Gardner then swung things considerably in the Rockets’ favour when she dismissed Lanning lbw for 35 to leave the Super Giants rocking at 89-5. Gardner then turned catcher, taking a great grab at long-off to see the back of Kathryn Bryce for 27.
Late hitting from Maitlan Brown kept the Super Giants in with a chance, but when she was run-out by Georgia Adams, with her went the home side’s chances. Gardner then mopped up to finish with 4-16.
The Rockets lost the big wicket of Beth Mooney early. Luff and Dunkley then took charge of the innings.
Luff used her feet to launch Sophie Ecclestone for a legside maximum and went after Bryce, depositing her for three consecutive fours. Both batters then dispatched Villiers for six as they brought up their 50 stand off 33 balls.
Luff reached her first-ever half-century in The Hundred but fell shortly after for 51. Dunkley then raised her bat for a 50 of her own before she went caught at point off Ecclestone for 57.
The left-arm spinner then bowled Bess Heath for a duck and Villiers had Gardner stumped for 5 with the Rockets losing three wickets for five runs as the Super Giants fought back brilliantly, but ultimately couldn’t stop the Rockets posting a total north of 150.
Sophia Dunkley was named Meerkat Match Hero for her half-century and three catches in the outfield. She said: “I found the pitch a little bit tricky, it wasn’t my best [in terms of] fluency but great to get the win.
“It took me a while to get used to conditions. I thought Luffy was outstanding as well, came in and brought the momentum and got us to a really good score.”
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