Tom Banton leads Trent Rockets to 2 wins in a row as Banton and Rehan knocks enough to overhaul the middling target.
Trent Rockets continued their perfect start to The Hundred this season at Trent Bridge, defeating Northern Superchargers by five wickets.
Although the Superchargers did well to push the game deep, the Rockets, who defeated Birmingham Phoenix at Edgbaston on Friday in front of their home crowd for the first time this season, triumphed with comparatively little fanfare after restricting Andrew Flintoff’s team to 128 for 9 from their 100 balls.
Given the conditions and the way the Superchargers women’s team batted in the opening game of the day, runs were probably to be expected. However, the ball gripped on a dry surface, and few batters appeared to be able to bat with much freedom.
Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis broke the most important partnership between top-scorer Harry Brook and Graham Clarke, who put on 56 runs, but spinners Akeal Hosein and Rehan Ahmed claimed two wickets each for the hosts and prevented the Superchargers from getting going. After taking two wickets in two balls, Stoinis let up 0 runs in his five balls.
When the Superchargers had to defend, the story was similar. Imad Wasim took two wickets in two balls and three wickets overall, while Adil Rashid gave up almost nothing and took two wickets. However, with four balls left, Stoinis and Adam Hose dragged the Trent Rockets home in front of 13,497 jubilant home fans.
Meerkat Match Hero Akeal Hosein said: “I was grateful for that start [two early wickets] and thankful to be able to put my team in a winning position early on.
“I think both ends of the wicket played differently. The top end here where I started off, it was a bit sticky, it gripped a bit, and then when I went on the other end it was a bit low and skiddy, so it’s about just working out what works well at each end and sticking to that plan for as long as possible.
“It’s a happy bunch. It’s a talented bunch as well, and we have one goal in mind. Whenever the ball is thrown to us, it’s our opportunity to make it happen for the team. It’s very good to have a good group of bowlers. So even if it doesn’t go your way on that day, you know you’ve got your brothers to cover you.”
On the close finish, he added: “I walked across from the dressing room with all confidence. I had no pads on, you know? So that’s the confidence I had in the boys to get over the line. But with that being said, it was closer than we would have liked, but we were glad to get over the line.”