Trent Rockets Women produced a composed all-round performance to defeat Oval Invincibles Women by six wickets with 16 balls to spare in The Hundred 2025, chasing down a modest target of 110 with relative comfort at The Oval.
Asked to bat first, Oval Invincibles had a rocky start when skipper Lauren Winfield-Hill (7 off 14) was caught by McCarthy at short fine leg off Alexa Stonehouse. The innings briefly steadied through Meg Lanning, who looked in prime touch and compiled a fluent 45 off 35 balls, striking five fours and a six at a strike rate of 128.57. She controlled the middle overs, but partners fell around her.
Alice Capsey (15 off 17) fell lbw to Kirstie Gordon, and just as the Invincibles looked to build momentum, Marizanne Kapp (7 off 6) was dismissed, caught and bowled by Ashleigh Gardner. Lanning herself departed at a crucial juncture, miscuing to Nat Sciver-Brunt off Gardner, leaving Invincibles at 78/4 after 73 balls.
The lower order could not provide much of a surge. Amanda-Jade Wellington (7 off 5) was stumped brilliantly by Eleanor Threlkeld off Alana King, while Joanne Gardner (2) and Phoebe Franklin (4 off 3) fell in quick succession. Only Paige Scholfield (16* off 14) showed some late fight, while Kalea Moore (3*) offered support at the death, but the side could only limp to 109/7 from their 100 balls.
The Rockets’ bowlers were disciplined throughout. Gardner (2/10 off 10) was the standout with her incisive spin, while Gordon (2/21) also kept things tight. King, Stonehouse and Graham picked up one wicket each, while Cassidy McCarthy’s 0/25 from 20 balls was economical in context.
Chasing 110, Rockets got a brisk start courtesy of Bryony Smith, who cracked four boundaries in her 24 off 21 balls before being caught by Gardner off Moore. Her opening partner Grace Scrivens continued with positive intent, crafting a crucial 34 off 27 balls with five fours, anchoring the chase during the middle overs.
The Invincibles bowlers tried to claw back momentum. Marizanne Kapp trapped Nat Sciver-Brunt (2 off 5) early, and Amanda-Jade Wellington struck a key blow by dismissing captain Ashleigh Gardner (11 off 7), caught by Joanne Gardner. When Scrivens holed out to Paige Scholfield off Capsey, Rockets were suddenly 75/4 after 63 balls, leaving the game delicately poised.
The chase, however, was calmly finished off by Jodi Grewcock and Heather Graham, who showed no nerves under pressure. Grewcock stroked a lively 21 not out off 14 balls with three boundaries, while Graham smashed an unbeaten 19 off 11 balls, including two fours and a towering six, at a strike rate of 172.72. Their unbeaten 38-run stand ensured Rockets crossed the line at 113/4 in just 84 balls, with 16 deliveries still in hand.
For Invincibles, the wickets were spread around—Kapp (1/17), Wellington (1/15), Capsey (1/16), Moore (1/26)—but they lacked penetration to halt the Rockets’ chase once the top order had done its job.
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