Trent Rockets Women produced a dominant batting display to defeat MI London Women by nine wickets with 18 balls remaining in The Hundred Women’s Competition at The Oval on August 8, 2026. After MI London Women were made to work hard for their runs on a challenging passage through the middle of their innings, the Rockets chased down the target with remarkable ease, riding on unbeaten half-centuries from Beth Mooney and Nat Sciver-Brunt.
MI London Women began cautiously after being asked to bat, with Hayley Matthews and Kira Chathli tasked with laying the foundation. The pair negotiated the opening phase, taking MI London Women through the opening 25 balls without losing a wicket. They produced 28 runs without loss, although the scoring rate remained modest.
The partnership ended when Matthews was trapped lbw by Samantha Bates after scoring 10 from 10 balls, including one four. Chathli continued to hold the innings together, but she was unable to accelerate dramatically as MI London Women moved into the middle overs. The Rockets also had a review for a possible wicket against Chathli during the 19th ball, but the decision was struck down. Chathli eventually brought up a useful 31 from 27 balls, with five fours, before Bates struck again to remove her lbw at 48.
With the score at 39 when Hollie Armitage departed, MI London’s innings briefly lost momentum. Armitage managed only four from six balls, falling lbw to Charley Phillips and leaving the London side at 39/2. The next partnership between Armitage and Melie Kerr was worth 10 before Armitage’s dismissal, while Kerr attempted to inject some urgency into the innings. Kerr scored 17 from 14 balls, including a six, but her stay ended at 73, with Georgia Elwiss taking the wicket after Kerr was caught by Nat Sciver-Brunt.
The innings became increasingly difficult for MI London when Nicola Carey fell for a golden duck at 49, stumped by Beth Mooney off Samantha Bates. That left the home side in serious trouble, but Alice Monaghan and Chinelle Henry changed the complexion of the innings with an excellent unbeaten partnership.
The pair added 48 runs for the fifth wicket, giving MI London Women a much-needed late surge. Monaghan remained unbeaten on 27 from 21 balls, striking two fours, while Henry matched her with an unbeaten 27 from 21 deliveries, hitting four boundaries. Their partnership helped MI London reach 100 from 88 balls, before the final 12 balls added enough to take the score to 121/5 after the full 100 balls. Five extras also contributed to the total.
The Rockets’ bowling effort was led by Samantha Bates, who finished with an impressive 3 for 13 from 20 balls, accounting for Matthews, Chathli and Carey. Charley Phillips returned 1 for 24 from 20 balls, while Georgia Elwiss claimed 1 for 25 from her 20 deliveries. Kim Garth bowled 20 balls for 25 runs though was wicketless, while Ashleigh Gardner conceded 32 from her 20 balls without a wicket. Gardner and Garth also supplied tight spells at different stages, although MI London’s late partnership ensured the Rockets had 122 to chase.
Trent Rockets Women began their chase with Beth Mooney and Sophia Dunkley, but MI London Women enjoyed an early breakthrough. The Rockets reached 27/1 at the end of their opening 25-ball Powerplay, with Dunkley departing for just 0 from three balls, bowled by Tara Norris. At that stage, MI London would have hoped the early wicket could open the door for a competitive defence.
Instead, Nat Sciver-Brunt joined Mooney and completely changed the momentum of the chase. The pair immediately attacked the bowling and began finding boundaries with increasing regularity. The second-wicket partnership raced to 50 runs from 34 balls, with Mooney contributing 22 and Sciver-Brunt 28 during that phase. By the time the Rockets reached the strategic timeout, they were already 68/1 from 50 balls, firmly in control.
Mooney was particularly effective in rotating the strike while Sciver-Brunt provided the explosive acceleration. The England all-rounder brought up a sensational 50 from just 27 balls, smashing nine fours and one six. Her innings continued to grow in authority as the required target came closer, while Mooney provided the ideal support at the other end.
The partnership eventually became an unbeaten 118-run stand, taking Trent Rockets from 7/1 to 125/1. Mooney finished unbeaten on 54 from 44 balls, hitting six fours, while Sciver-Brunt remained not out on a magnificent 67 from 36 balls, with nine fours and one six. The Rockets reached 100, and from there the finish was never in doubt. They completed the chase in only 82 balls, finishing at 125/1, with 18 balls still unused.
MI London bowlers unable to stop the onslaught. Tara Norris was the only bowler to claim a wicket, finishing with 1 for 26 from 20 balls. Kalea Moore bowled five balls for eight runs, while Nicola Carey conceded 16 from 10 balls without a wicket. Melie Kerr completed 15 balls for 24 runs, and captain Hayley Matthews conceded 20 from 15 deliveries. Kirstie Gordon was taken for 21 from 12 balls, while Alexa Stonehouse bowled five balls for nine runs.
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