Trent Rockets kept their hopes of reaching the knockouts alive with a comfortable 24-run win over Southern Brave in the women’s Hundred competition at the Utilita Bowl.
An impressive Rockets score of 155, featuring an unbeaten 60 from England all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt, proved impossible for Brave to chase, despite some late fireworks from Chloe Tryon.
Put in to bat, Rockets saw Linsey Smith run out from the first ball of the innings and Nat Wraith bowled by Lauren Cheatle for 12.
But Sciver-Brunt put on partnerships of 62 with Grace Scrivens (36) and 33 with Ash Gardner (18) to put Rockets in command.
Lauren Bell took three wickets in the final balls of the innings, including Australia internationals Heather Graham and Alana King from consecutive deliveries.
Brave were 1-2 within four balls, as teenager Alexa Stonehouse dismissed the dangerous pair of Danni Wyatt and Maia Bouchier for ducks.
Smriti Mandhana struck 42 to help rebuild the home side’s innings, but her dismissal sparked three wickets falling within seven balls to leave Brave 86-6 with 24 balls remaining.
South Africa all-rounder Tyron (47*) clubbed four fours and two sixes to drag the Brave score towards respectability, but they finished well short of the total required.