The Hundred: Alex Hales leads dramatic Trent Rockets fightback to beat Northern Superchargers | Cricket News

Alex Hales top-scored with an unbeaten 40 – after being dropped by Ben Stokes – as Trent Rockets recovered from 58-6 to edge residence in opposition to Northern Superchargers by two wickets and go high of the Hundred desk

Alex Hales batted by the Trent Rockets innings to seal their two-wicket win over Northern Superchargers

Alex Hales smashed an unbeaten 40 from 34 balls as Trent Rockets accomplished a dramatic turnaround to squeeze previous Northern Superchargers by two wickets within the Hundred.

STORY OF THE MATCH

Northern Superchargers skipper Ben Stokes – making his final look previous to becoming a member of up with the Take a look at squad – selected to bat after successful the toss, however his facet did not see out their full 100-ball allocation and had been bowled out for 132.

Aside from a stand of 61 runs in 40 balls between John Simpson (42 from 33) and Harry Brook (38 from 30), the guests did not construct partnerships and struggled in opposition to Rockets’ spin assault.

Matt Carter, referred to as into the facet after Steven Mullaney was pressured to isolate as a consequence of Covid protocols, set the tone together with his spell of 2-17 and Afghanistan star Rashid Khan completed with 3-31, whereas seamer Marchant de Lange registered 3-22.

However Adil Rashid (2-27) grabbed two wickets in as many balls – these of England team-mates Dawid Malan and Joe Root, each for geese – and with fellow spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Callum Parkinson additionally taking two apiece, the Rockets seemed doomed at 58-6.

Whereas wickets tumbled round him, nonetheless, Alex Hales remained in an unaccustomed anchor position – and Rashid Khan (25 from 12) and Carter (13 not out from eight) offered him with sufficient help to see his facet over the road.

Stokes, nonetheless, was left to rue not solely letting a Hales drive slip by his arms for six – but additionally choosing tempo in his penultimate set of 5, with the Rockets opener smashing David Willey for an unlimited six to wrap up a two-wicket victory.

MASSIVE MOMENT

Arguably a useless ball proved to be the turning level, with a pitch intruder halting play and compelling Adil Rashid to bowl once more to Hales, who was then on 16 with Superchargers nonetheless favourites for victory.

The Rockets opener promptly heaved Rashid to long-off – the place Stokes, fielding on the boundary, allowed the ball to slide by his grasp and go for a six that reignited the house facet’s hopes.

MATCH HERO

Rashid Khan’s contribution with each bat and ball was important – in addition to taking three wickets to limit the Superchargers to 132, the Afghanistan star additionally confirmed simply why he should be taken severely as a real all-rounder.

Adil Rashid got here in for some punishment, conceding a six and two fours in his ultimate set because the batter’s knock of 25 from simply 12 balls stored the Rockets inside touching distance.

Trent Rockets off-spinner Matt Carter was referred to as into the facet and impressed with figures of 2-17 (Getty Photographs)

However Matt Carter should have run him an in depth second – his powerplay bowling put the Superchargers on the again foot and he additionally shone with the bat, thrashing Willey for six as he and Hales guided the house facet to an exhilarating victory.

SPECIAL DELIVERY

Superchargers’ spinner Callum Parkinson, who had simply been clobbered for six by Samit Patel, took quick revenge by pitching one up, tempting the batsman to drive and edging behind to depart the Rockets deep in bother at 36-4.

The left-armer then returned to the assault to dispatch Lewis Gregory – whose 14 from eight deliveries was starting to threaten a fightback – getting the ball to skid by a bit of quicker and bowl the Rockets captain as he swung throughout the road.

Rockets’ Rashid Khan deserves a point out as nicely – he replicated his acquainted T20 position, approaching straight after the powerplay and instantly produced a magnificence that foxed Adam Lyth, bowling the left-hander round his legs.

OOPS!

It was very a lot Marchant de Lange’s day when the Rockets obtained their marketing campaign off to a successful begin, making Hundred historical past by changing into the primary participant within the event to finish a five-wicket haul.

The South African seamer did the enterprise once more with the ball, choosing up one other three wickets – together with two in as many deliveries – because the Superchargers’ innings stuttered late on.

Nevertheless, there was additionally a forgettable second for de Lange, who misjudged the spin on the ball when John Simpson sq. drove Joe Root and ended up groping hopefully at skinny air because it whizzed previous him en path to the boundary.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The Hundred roadshow hits Cardiff for the primary time, with Welsh Hearth aiming to singe their guests from Southern Courageous!

The ladies’s groups will get issues below approach at 3pm, adopted by the lads’s fixture at 6.30pm.

Welsh Hearth vs Courageous

July 27, 2021, 2:30pm

Stay on

Welsh Hearth vs Courageous

July 27, 2021, 6:00pm

Stay on

Watch each video games on Sky Sports activities The Hundred and Principal Occasion, in addition to the Sky Sports Cricket YouTube channel.

Watch The Hundred dwell on Sky Sports activities this summer time!