Trent Rockets vs MI London Match 25 Full Commentary

The players are back on the field. MI get themselves into a huddle. Out walk the two openers for the Rockets - Ben Duckett and Finn Allen. Now, MI disperse and the new ball has been given to Trent Boult. Duckett to face. Here we go again. 148 to win from 100 balls...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Below par? As per Stuart Broad on air. We do feel like agreeing with him, but when two strong teams meet, you never know what to expect. Just the other evening, everyone felt that Birmingham Phoenix should have chased down an 'under-par' 169. But it didn't happen. Similarly, not wanting to judge a pitch before both sides have batted and bowled on it, MI London have got the runs on the board. The pitch is a batting beauty but if MI can get 2-3 wickets in the Powerplay, this game could have an exciting finish. Please stay tuned for the run chase.

We are a very aggressive unit - Trent Rockets' CALVIN HARRISON is up for a chat with the broadcasters. He is first asked about his thoughts on his team's performance from a fielding perspective. To which, he says it was an overall brilliant day on the field for them, highlighting some excellent catches taken throughout the innings. Points out to the big pockets at The Oval and the need to be proactive to save the runs. Credits Ben Sanderson for setting the tone upfront and finishing off well too. Mentions that it is a very nice wicket and hopes that his team can chase this target down without trouble. On the catch off his own bowling, to dismiss Will Jacks, Calvin shares that he didn't have much time to react and is just happy that the ball got stuck. On what work they do while training for fielding, he says they are a very aggressive unit and try to be on the front foot. On the target, he says it feels like a really good wicket and is confident that they will get the job done.

Captain leading from the front - No complaints about that. Sam Curran has registered his highest score in The Hundred, and he can be certainly proud of the way he batted. But as a skipper, to see only one other batter to cross the 30-run mark in a power-packed lineup will be disappointing. Additionally, despite being set and on a half century, Curran could not quite maximize the final set of five. Yes, he did score 20 runs in the 13 balls in that phase, before getting out on the 14th, but would have wanted more. Also, in the middle stage, between balls 26-75, London managed just 72/2 in 50 balls. That's where the game could be decided, one feels.

Setting the tone on the field - The Rockets definitely bowled very well. The very first set of the match was a maiden by Ben Sanderson. But what set the tone was the terrific catch taken by Tim David to dismiss James Vince. MI London had just put their foot on the accelerator and David's blinder was followed by another screeching effort by Ben Duckett and Trent just picked it up from there. Those two fielding efforts put doubts in the batters' minds and the bowlers got into their work of choking the opposition. You won't see any one standout bowler in the scorecard because it was a team effort.

An average score - That's what Mark Butcher on air reckons. Just 39/3 in the last 25 balls and Trent Rockets can be mighty proud of themselves. However, MI London have got the runs on the board and it is now upto their bowlers.

Final ball...

Team hat-trick ball time! Tom Curran comes out to face the music at number 8, replacing Sherfane Rutherford.

Sherfane Rutherford walks in next, at number 7, replacing Sikandar Raza. Lewis Gregory will finish things off. 0/29 in 10 balls so far.

/21 in 10 balls so far.

STRATEGIC TIMEOUT. Pretty bizarre from Sam Billings to take a timeout at this stage of the innings, with just 15 balls left. Probably he senses something and hence wants the batters to wait before going on the charge next. This has been another excellent display with the ball by the Rockets and they will hope to restrict MI under 150. London, on the other hand, will wish for their skipper to bat through and take them towards 160. Sanderson will continue and bowl out.

Over and out from The Oval - Trent Rockets have looked like a team to beat all season, and they have handed MI London the double over in some style. If Ashleigh Gardner and her troops breezed past their opponents earlier in the day, Sam Billings and his army got the job done with just as much flair in the end. Both the men and women now stand crowned at the top of their respective tables, and have given themselves a real shot for a direct qualification for the final. For MI London though, especially the men, this leaves them in a distinctly tricky spot. They are caught in a three-way tangle at 16 points, and if Manchester Super Giants beat Southern Brave in this next game which is about to get underway soon, that logjam swells to four teams all level on points. Which means the next few matches are going to decide the fate of these teams. Interesting times ahead as the season heads to the climax. Now then, action shifts to Southampton where Southern Brave host Manchester Super Giants, and the first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 5 pm GMT. Our buildup has already begun for that game, with the Super Giants having won the toss and opting to BAT first. So do hop on that matchcenter to catch all the updates from that match. From here, we sign off. Cheers!

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - The award goes to Trent Rockets' MITCHELL SANTNER, for his quickfire unbeaten 52 (23) studded with 5 fours and 3 sixes. Not to forget, there was a frugal spell of 0/19 in 20 balls in the first innings as well. On Trent Rocket's first win at The Oval, Santner says that The Oval never disappoints and it is a great place to play, calling this a wonderful win. On the specific change in strategy after the strategic timeout, Mitchell says that the overall strategy between him and Tim David was to utilize the dimensions of the ground, adding that the left-right combination served them well. Explains that with one side of the ground short, it made no sense to go big from both ends and rather wait to utilize the shorter side. On qualifying for the playoffs, MS says that the nothing can be taken for granted in this format and is happy to qualify for the playoffs. Hopes to qualify for the final next, on Monday.

... The Presentation ...

Curran to the rescue - It was a good recovery for MI London after they lost quick wickets through the middle overs. Jacks had given them a flyer of a start, though that early sparkle faded fast at the top. Sam Curran emerged as the man of the moment, playing a fighting knock of 72, his highest score in The Hundred, though he found himself starved of strike in the closing stages. Trent Rockets, meanwhile, were disciplined with the ball and outstanding in the field, proving once again that catches win matches, with a couple of stunners keeping MI London's big hitters firmly on a leash.

Santner and David cash in, gleefully - Where Trent Rockets were pristine in the field, MI London were anything but. Of course, they had a couple of moments of brilliance in the field, but it just unraveled later on and spread like an epidemic. Tim David got not one but two lives, put down on 17 by Raza and again on 24 by Rutherford, while Santner too was shown mercy, dropped on 26 by Sam Curran. The Rockets, by contrast, held everything that came their way and didn't put a single chance down all innings. With the game still delicately balanced, with the Rockets needing 77 off 50 balls at that stage, those three missed chances proved the difference in the end. Santner and David simply accepted those gifts on offer, cashing in on each reprieve in a canter. Interestingly, though, it was David who played the more measured hand of the two. He did put away the bad balls when they came, sure, but it was Santner who took on the role of aggressor here, ending up with his first Hundred half century. It was a reversal of the usual script, where David tends to do the heavy lifting himself. In the end, their blazing, unbeaten 78-run stand saw the Rockets home comfortably.

Blitz and blunder - Rockets didn't get the launch they would have wanted, losing Finn Allen early in the piece. Aneurin Donald walked in at number three and responded with a hammering counterattack, dragging the innings back onto course, before a needless run out undid all that good work. Rockets slid from 41/1 to 70/4 in the space of a few balls in that middle phase. Duckett's fighting knock was also cut short by Gleeson, who had earlier accounted for captain Billings too, plucking off a stunning one-handed caught and bowled. That cluster of wickets did put the Rockets on the back foot with still a sizeable score to track down.

Firm favourites - Indeed they are. Trent Rockets continue their juggernaut run, extending their winning streak to six wins on the bounce after commencing their campaign with a stinging defeat. The hosts did put them to the test, no doubt, but the Rockets patched things up beautifully and finished the job in some style. Not for the first time have Sam Billings and company bossed up at the Oval. He used to do exactly this for the Oval Invincibles (previous franchise of MI London) once upon a time, and now, in the shades of Yellow, he has done it right back to them. This also marks Trent Rockets' first-ever win at the Kennington Oval in the history of The Hundred, snapping a four-match losing streak at this venue at long last. And honestly, the way they are playing right now, steamrolling everyone in their path, they look every bit untouchable.

Sam Curran comes back for his last set. 0/23 in 15 balls so far.

Got to feel, that MI have hit themselves on their own foot through that set. 23 runs needed in 20 balls now. Trent Boult returns for a last dig. 0/13 in 15 balls.

A very expensive set from Tom Curran. The equation now reads 36 runs, 25 balls. Remember, MI made 39/3 in their last 5 sets. Richard Gleeson to bowl out. 2/14 in 15 balls so far.