Manchester Originals Edge Trent Rockets in Thrilling Final-Ball Victory

Manchester Originals Edge Trent Rockets in Thrilling Final-Ball Victory

In a dramatic finale at Old Trafford, Manchester Originals secured a nail-biting one-run victory over Trent Rockets in The Hundred women's competition. The win, marked by outstanding death bowling, handed the Originals their first triumph of the season while delivering the Rockets their first defeat.

The Rockets, who needed just four runs off the final delivery to clinch the match, fell short as England's Nat Sciver-Brunt, who played a stellar unbeaten innings of 56 from 46 balls, could only manage two runs off Kathryn Bryce's decisive last ball.

Manchester Originals, coming off a heavy defeat to Welsh Fire in their opener, showed remarkable resilience. Batting first, the Originals posted a solid 137-6. Contributions came from Eve Jones (34 off 25 balls) and Kathryn Bryce (32), with captain Sophie Ecclestone adding crucial late runs (13) to set a competitive target.

In response, the Rockets seemed to be cruising towards the target with Sciver-Brunt and Australia's Ash Gardner (36) anchoring the innings. However, the Originals' bowlers staged a late comeback. With 22 runs needed from the last 10 balls, Lauren Filer (2-26) and Kathryn Bryce delivered exceptional bowling under pressure, stifling the Rockets' scoring rate.

The thrilling victory not only boosted the Originals' confidence but also shook up the group standings, preventing the Rockets from claiming the top spot.

Manchester Originals head coach, delighted with the team's performance, praised the players' composure under pressure. "It was a fantastic team effort," he said. "The way we bowled in the final stages was exceptional, and this win will give us great momentum moving forward."

Trent Rockets, despite the loss, remain a formidable team in the competition, and their ability to push the game to the final ball underscores their competitiveness.

The Hundred continues to provide exhilarating cricketing moments, with the Originals' narrow victory at Old Trafford being one of the most thrilling finishes yet. Fans can expect more high-octane action as the competition progresses, with every team vying for the top spot in this innovative and exciting format.