Trent Rockets vs beat Manchester Originals at Nottingham (Trent Bridge) on 17 August 2023
‘Originals’ found themselves knocked-out of the competition by failing to post a defendable score. Before the match, commentators said that Originals needed points to qualify for the tournament’s next stage. For ‘Rockets,’ it was ‘more simple:’ if they lost, they were said to be ‘out.’ Commentators added that the top 3 qualifiers for the ‘finals’ could be decided as early as Friday, if ‘Superchargers’ booked their place by beating ‘Spirit’ at Lord’s. POTM Meerkat Match Hero ‘Rockets” Bryony Smith [28 runs from 19 balls & 1/27] (pictured) hit 6 ‘fours’ and was said to be ‘hugely impressive.’ Together with Lizelle Lee ‘who’d been world-class’ for some ‘considerable time,’ the pair of batters made an ‘emphatic’ start, banking 60 runs. Skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt saw ‘Rockets’ safely home by a comfortable margin, partnered by Lizelle Lee, who hit the match-winning ‘six.’ Introduced for SKY TV by Simon Doull (NZ TV personality) with Charles Dagnall. Also with James ‘Jimmy’ Anderson & Stuart Broad (Ashes series.) Guest speaker between innings was Ian Martin, ECB’s Head of England Disability Cricket. Match highlights courtesy of SKY Sports (please see below.) Weather at Trent Bridge was warm and sunny, but below average temperature for August.
MO-W *Skipper Sophie Ecclestone [*Lizelle Lee keeping wicket for ‘Rockets’] *International players Laura Wolvaardt (Rep. South Africa), Amanda-Jade Wellington (Australia ‘A’ & WBBL ‘5-fer’ bowler), & Deandre Dottin (ex-WIndies); with England’s Sophie Ecclestone, & England ‘A’s’ Grace Scrivens & Emma Lamb. *Also with Scotland’s Kathryn Bryce. *Emma Lamb 2(6) was caught at ‘short-fine’ by Joanne ‘Jo’ Gardner from Katherine Sciver-Brunt. *Fi Morris 1(4) was caught at ‘mid-off’ by Harmanpreet Kaur rolling backwards, from Alexa Stonehouse *After 25 balls ‘Power-play,’ ‘Originals’ were 19/2. *Laura Wolvaardt partnered by Deandre Dottin staged a recovery, their partnership adding 40. *Laura Wolvaardt 23(31) was stumped by Lizelle Lee from Kirstie Gordon. *Deandre Dottin 30(26) was earlier dropped (by Jo Gardner) on the boundary edge, but 2 runs later later caught at ‘deep-square’ by Alana King from Bryony Smith. *Sophie Ecclestone 5(3) was ‘run-out’ by Kirstie Gordon’s return throw from ‘point,’ immediately following Amanda-Jade Wellington mis-timed sweep – taking a ‘run that wasn’t there’ – from Alana King. *Amanda-Jade Wellington was 22*(not out) (19) added 35 runs with Katie George 14*(not out)13. The pair of ‘All-Rounders’ took ‘Originals’ score past the 100-mark. *‘Originals’ best batter and the only ‘Originals’ batter to score ’six’ was Deandre Dottin 30(26) *’Rockets’ best bowler was Kirstie Gordon 1/18.
TR-W *Skipper Natalie ‘Nat’ Sciver-Brunt [*Ellie Threlkeld keeping wicket for ‘Originals’] *International players Harmanpreet Kaur (India), Alana King (Australia) & Lizelle Lee (ex Rep. South Africa), with Natalie Sciver-Brunt (England); Bryony Smith & Kirstie Gordon (England ‘A’); Fran Wilson (ex England) & Alexa Stonehouse (England u-19’s) *Rockets made an ‘emphatic’ start with ‘Strategic-time-out’ called after 25 balls ‘Power-play’ on 49/0 (vs 19/2.) *Just one wicket fell when Bryony Smith 28(19) top-edged a ‘slog-sweep’ and was caught at ‘short-fine’ by Mahika Gaur, from Sophie Ecclestone. *After 50 balls, ‘Rockets’ were 80/1. *Hitting 5 ‘fours,’ skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt 33*(not out) 18 joined best batter Lizelle Lee 44*(not out)27 who hit 2 ‘sixes’ and 6 ‘fours:’ hitting her second ‘six’ to win the match. *Originals’ best bowler was Sophie Ecclestone (1/34.)
Match summary: The visitors made a slow start, losing two wickets during the PowerPlay to seam-bowling. WIndies legend Deandre Dottin top-scored with 30 runs from 26 balls; until caught by Alana King from Bryony Smith’s ‘off-breaks’. All-rounders Amanda-Jade Wellington partnered by Katie George added 35 runs, toward a defendable total. POTM Meerkat Match Hero Bryony Smith making an ‘emphatic’ start to ‘Rockets’ run-chase, partnered by Lizelle Lee. Skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt together with Lizelle Lee saw ‘Rockets’ safely home by a wide margin, the result knocking ‘Originals’ out of the competition. ‘Rockets’ 4th (5 points); ‘Originals’ 7th (4 points.)
Match result: Trent Rockets Women 110/1 beat Manchester Originals Women 107/5 by nine wickets (with 36 balls remaining)
*’Originals’’ batting: 107/5 (from 100 balls @1.0 run-per-over): Laura Wolvaardt 23(31), Deandre Dottin 30(26), Amanda-Jade Wellington 22*(not out) (19) *‘Rockets’’ bowling: Kirstie Gordon 1/18, Katherine Sciver-Brunt 1/20, Bryony Smith 1/27, Alexa Stonehouse 1/27; Fow 1-14, 2-15, 3-55, 4-67, 5-72.
*’Rockets’’ batting: 110/1 (from 64/100 balls @1.7 r-p-o): Lizelle Lee 44*(not out)27, Natalie ‘Nat’ Sciver-Brunt 33*(not out)18, Bryony Smith 28(19); *’Originals’’ bowling: Sophie Ecclestone (1/34); Fow 1-60.
*Scorecard courtesy of BBC Sport @URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/ECKE10007399
*Match highlights (7m40s) courtesy of SKY Sports @URL https://www.skysports.com/the-hundred/video/36891/12941890/highlights-trent-rockets-produce-dominant-display-against-manchester-originals
*Amanda-Jade Wellington’s ‘Secret Life of Wello’ Travel To Nottingham & Training At Trent Bridge; The Hundred Episode 14 via YouTube @URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ8UcM974jc
