Rockets’ dominance halted as Braves end winning streak in The Hundred
Trent Rockets’ six-match winning run in The Hundred came to an abrupt end as the Southern Braves secured a crucial victory, leaving the league leaders reliant on other results to secure direct progression to the final.
The Trent Rockets’ six-match winning streak in The Hundred was terminated by the Southern Braves at Trent Bridge on Monday, a result that denies the league leaders direct progression to Sunday’s final. The defeat shifts the onus onto the Rockets to depend on the outcome of the Manchester Super Giants versus SunRisers Leeds fixture on Tuesday to determine their path to the knockout stages.
Tristan Stubbs anchored the Southern Braves’ chase with an unbeaten 52 off 28 balls, guiding his side to victory with three balls to spare. His innings was bolstered by Marcus Stoinis, who contributed 46 not out off 25 deliveries, including a powerful start where he hit his first three balls for six, four, and six. The partnership turned the tide after the Braves were 78-3 at the halfway stage of their pursuit of 159.
In response, the Trent Rockets posted 158-5, a total bolstered by an unbroken 66-run partnership in 39 balls between Mitchell Santner, who remained not out on 35, and Lewis Gregory, who finished on 28 not out. Early momentum for the Rockets was established by Finn Allen, who scored 23 off 12 balls, and Aneurin Donald, who contributed 19 off nine deliveries before the middle-order stabilised the innings.
The loss leaves the Rockets in a precarious position regarding the tournament’s standings. SunRisers Leeds can overtake the Rockets for the top spot with a victory in their upcoming match due to a superior net run rate. Conversely, a win for the Manchester Super Giants would level them on points with the SunRisers at 20, potentially moving them into second place depending on the margin of victory.
Stubbs reflected on the Braves’ campaign, noting that while the team had shown capability at the end of the tournament, early losses had hindered their momentum. He described the result as a "nice way to finish off" a campaign that had been frustrating in its initial stages. The finals are scheduled to take place on Sunday, 16 August, with Sky Sports holding the broadcasting rights for the remainder of the tournament.
