It was a top-of-the-table clash at Trent Bridge between the Trent Rockets and London Spirit, Wood v Wood, Alex Hales v Eoin Morgan; several matchups could have made for an exciting game. However, Trent Rockets’ bowlers did the damage with the ball; Rashid Khan the pick of the bowlers with three for 25. He was ably supported by the other bowlers, who all chipped in. The Rockets completed a comfortable seven-wicket win with 21 balls remaining.
In the end, it was a relatively simple chase for the home side as they overtook their capital opponents as Colin Munro and Tom Kohler-Cadmore peppered the crowd with boundaries.
Trent Rockets took the wicket of the dangerous Adam Rossington for two, but Daniel Bell- Drummond and Ben McDermott started to find the middle of the bat, and both cleared the boundary twice.
The Rockets bowlers kept plugging away on a used pitch that was now into its fourth game. Once Bell-Drummond (24 from 15) fell to Luke Wood, it was down to McDermott and Morgan to propel Spirit to a defendable total. However, Rashid Khan and Samit Patel ensured that would never happen. They reduced Spirit from 51 for two to 105 for seven.
Khan has had a quiet tournament by his standards, but today he showed his quality bowling all three of his victims. Dan Lawrence walked past one delivery and was gone for just seven, Kieron Pollard gave himself room and misjudged the turn, and Jordan Thompson was bowled from one behind his legs.
Sam Cook and Luke Wood mopped up the tail, and a superb pick-up and throw from Daniel Sams to run out Chris Wood ensured the visitors failed to use all the balls at their disposal, being bowled out for 122 from 93 balls.
It would take a spirited bowling performance from the Lord’s side and receive a slice of luck when Alex Hales sent Dawid Malan back from the first ball and was run out from the first ball of the reply without facing.
Hales couldn’t make up for it and was dismissed shortly after for six. However, Munro and Kohler-Cadmore were in the mood for runs and a partnership of 85 in 51 deliveries. Kohler-Cadmore would fall for 41 from 28 balls, but the star of the show was Munro, whose unbeaten 67 came from just 37 balls, including four sixes and six fours.
It was a win that cemented Trent Rockets’ credentials and will hurt London Spirit, who has the quality to bounce back. However, both teams will be dreaming of a final’s day rematch.
