The Hundred Women’s Competition 2026 is now moving towards its final stage, with the fight for the knockout places getting more exciting. Trent Rockets have been the best-performing team so far and are the first side to officially confirm their place in the knockout stages. Led by Ashleigh Gardner, the Rockets have put together a strong campaign with some very good wins along the way. They suffered one defeat against London Spirit, but the team quickly came back and built another winning run. With one league game still left, Trent Rockets will now look to finish the group stage well and keep their strong form going into the knockouts.
A Strong Start Gave Trent Rockets Early Confidence
Trent Rockets started their campaign on July 24 against Birmingham Phoenix in Birmingham and made a strong start to the competition. After bowling Phoenix out for just 64, the Rockets needed only 31 balls to reach the target and won the game by nine wickets. The bowlers put the team in a very strong position before Sophia Dunkley and Sophie Luff finished the chase with ease. It was the perfect way for the Rockets to begin their campaign and gave the team plenty of confidence for the matches ahead. The result also showed that their bowling attack could put pressure on an opposition from the very start.
Their second game was a tougher one as they faced London Spirit at Trent Bridge on July 26. Trent Rockets scored 142/7 after being put into bat, but London Spirit chased down the target with three balls remaining. The five-wicket defeat was their first loss of the season and showed that the Rockets could also be pushed in close matches. However, they did not allow the result to affect their campaign. The team quickly moved on from the defeat and returned to winning ways in their next game.
A Strong Winning Run Put Trent Rockets in Control
Trent Rockets made a strong comeback against Welsh Fire in Cardiff on July 29. Welsh Fire scored 129/3, but the Rockets chased the target in only 83 balls and won by eight wickets. The team then produced another good performance against Manchester Super Giants on July 31. After making 153/8, they bowled out their opponents for 122 to win by 31 runs. These back-to-back wins showed that the Rockets could perform well with both bat and ball and were becoming one of the strongest sides in the competition.
Their next match against Sunrisers Leeds on August 2 was much closer. Trent Rockets made 139/7 and managed to defend the total as Sunrisers Leeds finished on 134/5, giving the Rockets a five-run win. They then continued their run against Birmingham Phoenix on August 5, chasing 123 with 16 balls left to win by six wickets. The latest win came against MI London at The Oval on August 8. After restricting MI London to 121/5, the Rockets reached 125/1 in just 82 balls and won by nine wickets. This result confirmed their place in the knockout stages and made them the first women’s team to officially qualify.
Sophia Dunkley and Nat Sciver-Brunt Lead the Batting
Trent Rockets have had several players making useful contributions with the bat during the tournament. Sophia Dunkley has been one of their main batters at the top of the order and has scored 259 runs in seven matches. She has given the team quick starts and has played an important role in their successful campaign. Nat Sciver-Brunt has also made a big difference after joining the team, scoring 161 runs in four matches. Beth Mooney brings plenty of experience to the batting group, while Bess Heath and Sophie Luff have also made valuable contributions when given opportunities.
The Rockets also have a strong group of all-rounders who give the batting order more depth. Ashleigh Gardner can score important runs in the middle order and can also contribute with the ball. Georgia Adams, Georgia Elwiss, Kim Garth and Eve Jones give the team more options depending on the match situation. This variety has helped Trent Rockets deal with different challenges during the tournament. They have not had to depend on just one batter to score the runs, which has been an important part of their success so far.
A Reliable Bowling Attack Has Been Key
The bowling attack has played a major role in Trent Rockets reaching the knockout stage. Ashleigh Gardner has led the side well and has been able to use different bowlers according to the situation. Samantha Bates provides a left-arm spin option and has been useful in controlling the scoring rate. Kim Garth and Georgia Elwiss bring pace and experience, while Sophie Munro and Charley Phillips add more options with the ball. Katie Levick and Millie Taylor also give the Rockets different spin choices, which can be useful depending on the pitch and opposition.
The team has shown that its bowlers can win matches in different ways. In the opening game against Birmingham Phoenix, the attack bowled the opposition out for only 64. Against Manchester Super Giants, they successfully defended a much bigger total of 153, while against Sunrisers Leeds they held their nerve in a five-run finish. Their latest game against MI London was another example of their control, as they kept the opposition to 121/5 before the batters finished the chase quickly. This balance between the different bowling options has helped the Rockets remain consistent.
International Experience Adds Strength to the Rockets
Another important strength for Trent Rockets is the amount of international experience in their squad. Players such as Ashleigh Gardner, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Beth Mooney and Kim Garth have played many matches at the highest level and know how to handle pressure. Their experience can be very useful when games become close and every ball starts to matter. At the same time, players such as Sophia Dunkley, Bess Heath and Sophie Luff have added energy and have taken their chances during the competition. The mix of experienced players and younger talent has given Trent Rockets a well-balanced group.
The players also understand what it takes to play important matches because many of them have already been part of major domestic and international competitions. This experience can help the team stay calm when the pressure increases in the knockout stage. The league phase has also given the players a chance to understand their roles and learn what works best for the team. Now, the focus will be on taking that experience into the biggest matches of the season. Trent Rockets will know that their previous results will not matter if they fail to perform when it matters most.
A Deep Squad Gives Trent Rockets Plenty of Options
Trent Rockets have a squad with good options in all three departments. Captain Ashleigh Gardner gives the team an experienced leader who can contribute with both bat and ball. Sophia Dunkley and Beth Mooney provide strong choices at the top of the order, while Nat Sciver-Brunt adds more quality to the middle order. Georgia Adams, Georgia Elwiss, Kim Garth and Eve Jones can also make important contributions with both skills. Behind them, players such as Samantha Bates, Katie Levick, Sophie Munro, Charley Phillips and Millie Taylor give the team a number of bowling options.
This depth can become very important during the knockout stage. Different grounds and match situations may require different combinations, and Trent Rockets have enough players to make those changes. They also have players who can take responsibility if one part of the team does not have its best day. The performances during the group stage have shown that the team is not dependent on only one or two players. If the Rockets continue to get contributions from different members of the squad, they will be in a strong position for the matches ahead.
Can Trent Rockets Finish the Job and Reach the Final?
Trent Rockets have already achieved their first target by securing qualification for the knockout stages. However, there is still plenty to play for in their final league match against Southern Brave on August 10. The team will want to finish as high as possible because the top side at the end of the group stage will go directly into the Final. The teams finishing second and third will meet in the Eliminator, so the final league positions will decide the route each team takes towards the title. This makes the Rockets’ last league match an important one despite their qualification already being confirmed.
The Rockets have shown during the competition that they can win comfortably as well as hold their nerve in close games. Their batters have produced strong totals and successful chases, while the bowlers have regularly put opposition teams under pressure. The next challenge will be to take the same level of confidence into the knockout stage, where there will be very little room for mistakes. With experienced players, good depth and match-winners in different parts of the team, Trent Rockets will believe they have a real chance of going all the way. If they continue to play with the same discipline and confidence, they will be one of the main teams to watch in the race for the trophy.
Trent Rockets Road to The Hundred Play-offs 2026 Fixtures
July 24, 2026: Trent Rockets vs Birmingham Phoenix – Birmingham (Won by 9 wickets)
July 26, 2026: Trent Rockets vs London Spirit – Nottingham (Lost by 5 wickets)
July 29, 2026: Welsh Fire vs Trent Rockets – Cardiff (Won by 8 wickets)
July 31, 2026: Manchester Super Giants vs Trent Rockets – Manchester (Won by 31 runs)
August 2, 2026: Trent Rockets vs Sunrisers Leeds – Nottingham (Won by 5 runs)
August 5, 2026: Trent Rockets vs Birmingham Phoenix – Nottingham (Won by 6 wickets)
August 8, 2026: MI London vs Trent Rockets – The Oval, London (Won by 9 wickets)
August 10, 2026: Trent Rockets vs Southern Brave – Nottingham
August 14, 2026: Eliminator (D/N) – TBA (Reserve Day included)
August 16, 2026: Final (D/N) – Lord’s (Reserve Day included, if required)
Trent Rockets Squad for The Hundred 2026
Ashleigh Gardner (C), Sophia Dunkley, Bess Heath (WK), Emma Jones, Ailsa Lister (WK), Beth Mooney (WK), Georgia Adams, Georgia Elwiss, Kim Garth, Eve Jones, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Samantha Bates, Katie Levick, Sophie Munro, Charley Phillips, Millie Taylor, Amu Surenkumar, Grace Johnson
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