6:04 PM IST & 1:34 PM Local Time: What a nail-biter at Trent Bridge! A low-scoring contest that went right down to the wire, but Southern Brave Women kept their composure to cross the finish line. Their perfect run this season stays intact as they extend their 100% winning record.
Earlier in the day, the Trent Rockets were asked to bat first by Georgia Adams, who suffered an early collapse. Tilly Corteen-Coleman struck twice in her opening set, removing Bryony Smith (10) and star batter Nat Sciver-Brunt (0) to leave the visitors rattled. Skipper Ashleigh Gardner tried to rebuild alongside Natasha Wraith, but the latter managed only 9 before falling to Mady Villiers. Jodi Grewcock (1) departed cheaply as Lauren Bell joined the act. Corteen-Coleman returned to dismantle Heather Graham (3) and Emma Jones (0), reducing the Rockets to 49/6. Lauren Bell then dismissed Gardner for a brisk 25, also becoming the first bowler to claim 50 wickets in The Women's Hundred.
With the innings in disarray, Alana King and Kirstie Gordon staged a defiant ninth-wicket stand, frustrating the Brave Women’s attack. The duo stitched together a vital 51-run partnership, taking the total into three figures before Gordon fell for 32. Alana King remained unbeaten on 24 as the Rockets were bowled out for 106 in the final set. Tilly Corteen-Coleman was the pick of the bowlers with superb figures of 4/13 from her four sets, well supported by Lauren Bell (3/16) as Southern Brave Women finished strongly with the ball.
Chasing 107, Southern Brave Women also had a nervy beginning. A mix-up between the openers cost Danielle Wyatt-Hodge her wicket for 4, and soon after Laura Wolvaardt departed cheaply for just 1. The visitors were under pressure, but Maia Bouchier and Sophie Devine steadied things with a composed 68-run partnership for the third wicket, shifting the momentum back in Brave’s favour.
The Rockets desperately needed a breakthrough and found it when Alana King produced a smart delivery to dismiss Bouchier for 42. Freya Kemp found it tough to get going, briefly lifting pressure with a six before falling for 14 off 15. But Devine’s calm presence proved decisive—she anchored the chase brilliantly, finishing unbeaten on 41 to guide Southern Brave Women to a 6-wicket victory in the final set.