Jordan Thompson stole the show and the match at Emirates Old Trafford, defending two runs from the final three balls of the game to secure Trent Rockets an improbable victory over Manchester Originals. For most parts of the chase, Originals were ahead but Rockets through first Rashid Khan and then Imad Wasim kept fighting back with wickets. And the job was finished by Jordan Thompson who has done this many times at the death. Holden batted all through the innings but he will be bitterly disappointed at not finishing it off.
The Originals needed just two runs from the final three balls to record their first win of the season but were denied by superb bowling from the Rockets’ Jordan Thompson. The Rockets’ one-run win was the second ever in the Hundred with the first, remarkably, happening just a few hours earlier when the Originals women beat the Rockets on the same ground.
Pitch and Toss
While the first match at Old Trafford in Manchester, turned out to be a low-scoring affair, the venue is generally known to favour the batters in white-ball cricket. Winning the toss and opting to bowl first could be a good call as the pitch is expected to remain the same for the entirety of the match. With a target in front of them, the chasing team will have an advantage. However, the new ball could swing around upfront and the top-order batters will have to be wary.
Manchester Originals skipper Phil Salt won the toss and opted to field . Trent Rockets Lewis Gregory batting first included Rashid Khan in the squad.
Tom Banton’s quickfire innings aided with Rashid Khan and Rovman Powell’s quickfire cameos powers Trent Rockets to 145.
Tom Banton got Rockets off to a flier at the top of the match, supported by Rovman Powell (27) and a big-hitting cameo from Rashid Khan (15), making his first appearance in the Hundred this year.
Tom Hartley’s 3 for 25 on a slow pitch perhaps suggested it wouldn’t be the easiest chase for the Originals, especially with spin duo Rashid and Imad Wasim in their attack, but when Paul Walter cleared the ropes on three occasions the home fans began to dream about a day of double-header victories.
Three wickets fell to those Rockets spinners in six balls to put doubts in the mind of the Originals faithful, but Raza looked to have allayed those fears until Jordan Thompson nipped in to make it two wins from two for Andy Flower’s Trent Rockets. The Rockets had posted a competitive score of 145-7 after a good platform from opener Tom Banton (45) and power hitting from West Indies cricketer Rovman Powell (27).
Jordan Thompson seals Trent Rockets heist in one-run thriller
Jordan Thompson stole the show and the match at Emirates Old Trafford, defending two runs from the final three balls of the game to secure Trent Rockets an improbable victory over Manchester Originals. On a day of last-ball finishes – after Originals women won the first game of the day by one run – it was once again the bowling side who ended up on top at the death when many may have been backing the batting side.
Sikandar Raza scored 21 from 12 balls to take Originals to the brink, but when he was run out with one ball to go it left Max Holden (40) requiring two runs for the hosts. Holden could only top-edge his attempted pull to Sam Hain on the leg-side, much to the delight of Jordan Thompson and his Rockets teammates.
Three wickets fell to those Rockets spinners in six balls to put doubts in the mind of the Originals faithful, but Raza looked to have allayed those fears until Jordan Thompson nipped in to make it two wins from two for Andy Flower’s Trent Rockets. The Originals needed just two runs from the final three balls to record their first win of the season but were denied by superb bowling from the Rockets’ Jordan Thompson.
The Englishman Jordan Thompson produced a dot ball before Sikandar Raza (21) was run out going for a single. It meant the home side needed two runs to win and one to tie off the final ball, but Max Holden (40) hooked Jordan Thompson’s delivery straight to Sam Hain who won the match for the Rockets with a simple catch.
Presentations and Road Ahead
Meerkat Match Hero Tom Banton said : “The emotions are very up and down! Obviously they played extremely well to get to a very close ending and that’s what The Hundred is about, attracting the crowd. It was a good game.
“My job at the top is to try and put their bowlers under pressure. I want to respect their good balls when they’re there, but when they’re in my scoring zone try and take it to them. And luckily it was my day.
“That’s what we want to do. At the start of the competition we talked about qualifying and obviously two wins from two is a good start.”
Thrilling game and the Rockets have stolen this from the Originals’ grasp. For most parts of the chase, Originals were ahead but Rockets through first Rashid Khan and then Imad Wasim kept fighting back with wickets. And the job was finished by Thompson who has done this many times at the death. Holden batted all through the innings but he will be bitterly disappointed at not finishing it off. Madsen and Walter played fine knocks but fell at the wrong time.
Raza with a couple of crucial strikes seemed to have the game in the bag, especially when his team needed just 2 off 3. He missed one ball and then was run-out off the next. Off the last ball, Holden holed out to spark celebrations from the Rockets. The pro-Originals crowd were shocked as were the home side who will feel that this is two points lost. So both the women’s and men’s games finished with a 1-run win today, terrific advertisement for The Hundred.