Nat Sciver-Brunt’s Brilliant Fifty Seals Trent Rockets’ Win Over Birmingham Phoenix

Being the team that batted first after winning the toss, Birmingham Phoenix (Women) aimed to set a challenging total in their 100-ball innings at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on August 27, 2025.

Birmingham Phoenix (Women) Innings

The team started cautiously, with opener Georgia Voll falling early for 6 runs off 6 balls, caught by Bryony Smith off Alexa Stonehouse’s bowling. This early setback brought captain Ellyse Perry to the crease alongside Emma Lamb, who anchored the innings with a steady, unbeaten 56 off 42 balls. Lamb’s knock was a proper innings with calculated aggression, featuring five boundaries and a strike rate of 133.33, making her the backbone of Phoenix’s batting effort.

Perry, known for her explosive batting, contributed 14 runs off 15 balls, including two fours, before being caught by Linda McCarthy off Kirstie Gordon’s spin in the 33rd ball. Her departure left Phoenix at 38 for 2, and the team needed stability. Amy Jones, the wicketkeeper-batter, joined Lamb but couldn’t capitalize, scoring 9 off 7 balls before being caught and bowled by Ashleigh Gardner. Sterre Kalis followed, but her slow 2 off 6 balls ended with a stumping by Eleanor Threlkeld off Alana King’s bowling, leaving Phoenix at 64 for 4 after 54 balls.

With wickets falling steadily, Marie Kelly provided some momentum, scoring 14 runs off 15 balls with a single boundary. Her partnership with Lamb helped Phoenix rebuild, but Kelly’s run-out by Gardner in the 84th ball halted their progress at 93 for 5. Ailsa Lister then injected some late fireworks, smashing 12 off 6 balls, including two fours, at a strike rate of 200.00. Her quick cameo ended when she was caught by Stonehouse off Gordon’s bowling in the 95th ball. Em Arlott, unbeaten on 6 off 4 balls, supported Lamb in the final overs, adding a boundary to push Phoenix to 123 for 6.

The innings saw a disciplined bowling performance from Trent Rockets. Kirstie Gordon led the attack with 2 wickets for 24 runs in her 20 balls, dismissing key batters Perry and Lister. Alexa Stonehouse, Alana King, and Ashleigh Gardner each claimed a wicket, maintaining tight lines and conceding runs at economical rates of 1.53, 1.05, and 1.20 runs per ball, respectively. Cassidy McCarthy was the most frugal, giving away just 9 runs in her 10 balls without a wicket. Heather Graham, while wicketless, bowled 20 balls for 27 runs. The Rockets’ fielding was sharp, with crucial catches and a run-out keeping Phoenix’s total in check.

Phoenix’s batting effort relied heavily on Lamb’s unbeaten half-century, but the middle order struggled to convert starts into big scores. The early loss of Voll and the quick dismissals of Perry, Jones, and Kalis prevented Phoenix from building substantial partnerships. Lister’s late burst provided a slight boost, but the total of 123 felt slightly below par on a decent batting surface. The innings featured only 12 boundaries and no sixes, reflecting a cautious approach punctuated by occasional aggression. Extras, including a bye, two no-balls, and a wide, added 4 runs to the total. Phoenix’s disciplined yet conservative batting set the stage for a tight chase, with Rockets needing 124 to win in 100 balls.

Trent Rockets (Women) Innings

While chasing a target of 124 runs, Trent Rockets (Women) approached their 100-ball innings with determination to secure a victory against Birmingham Phoenix (Women). The innings began with a setback as opener Bryony Smith fell for 10 runs off 10 balls, bowled by Em Arlott in the 11th ball. Grace Scrivens and Nat Sciver-Brunt then steadied the ship, with Scrivens scoring 16 off 21 balls, including two fours, before being caught by Arlott off Phoebe Brett’s bowling in the 42nd ball. Their partnership helped Rockets reach 50 runs in 34 balls, boosted by 13 extras, including six no-balls and seven wides.

Sciver-Brunt, the standout performer, played a match-defining knock of 52 off 29 balls, smashing six fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 179.31. Her aggressive batting during the powerplay (36 runs for 1 wicket in 25 balls) and beyond put Phoenix’s bowlers under pressure. She reached her fifty off 28 balls, anchoring the chase until she was caught by Megan Schutt off Hannah Baker’s bowling in the 65th ball, with Rockets at 102 for 4. Ashleigh Gardner, the captain, contributed a quick 10 off 7 balls with two fours but fell to a catch by Ailsa Lister off Schutt’s bowling in the 60th ball, leaving the chase delicately poised.

The middle order faced challenges as Heather Graham managed only 3 off 5 balls, caught by Lister off Brett, and Eleanor Threlkeld scored 2 off 3 balls before being adjudged lbw to Brett in the 75th ball, a decision upheld after a review by Phoenix. Alana King’s 9 off 15 balls provided some resistance, but she was caught by Amy Jones off Schutt in the 91st ball, leaving Rockets at 119 for 7. Jodi Grewcock, unbeaten on 8 off 6 balls with a boundary, and Kirstie Gordon, unbeaten on 3 off 4 balls, guided Rockets to the target of 126 for 7 with three balls to spare.

Phoenix’s bowling attack was led by Phoebe Brett, who claimed 3 wickets for 19 runs in her 20 balls, dismissing Scrivens, Graham, and Threlkeld at an economical 0.95 runs per ball. Megan Schutt supported with 2 wickets for 24 runs, removing Gardner and King, while Em Arlott and Hannah Baker took one wicket each. Georgia Voll and Ellyse Perry bowled 10 balls each but went wicketless, with Voll proving expensive at 2.30 runs per ball. Despite the disciplined bowling, Rockets capitalized on extras and Sciver-Brunt’s explosive knock to maintain a run rate of 1.29 per ball.

The chase was a tense affair, with Rockets crossing 100 runs in 67 balls, driven by Sciver-Brunt’s brilliance. The loss of wickets at regular intervals kept Phoenix in the game, but Grewcock and Gordon’s composure in the final overs sealed a three-wicket victory. The innings featured 13 boundaries and two sixes, with Sciver-Brunt’s fifty being the highlight.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

Being the player who turned the game on its head, Nat Sciver-Brunt delivered TCNI’s Magic Moment for Trent Rockets (Women) in their chase of 124 runs from 100 balls. Scoring a blazing 52 off just 29 balls, she smashed 6 fours and 2 sixes, boasting a strike rate of 179.31. Her explosive innings shifted the momentum, guiding the Rockets from a shaky 13/1 to a strong position before her dismissal at 65 balls, caught by Schutt off Baker. Despite early setbacks with Bryony Smith falling for 10 and Grace Scrivens scoring 16, Sciver-Brunt’s aggressive play kept the team in contention.

Ashleigh Gardner chipped in with 10, but wickets tumbled late, with Heather Graham (3), Eleanor Threlkeld (2), and Alana King (9) falling quickly. Jodi Grewcock (8) and Kirstie Gordon (3) remained not out, pushing the total to 126/7 in 97 balls, surpassing the target. On the bowling side, Phoebe Brett shone with 3 wickets for 19, while Megan Schutt took 2 for 24. Sciver-Brunt’s fiery knock was the heartbeat of the chase, earning her the spotlight.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

For the Trent Rockets (Women) match, Phoebe Brett emerged as the TCNI Hero of the Day with a stellar bowling performance. In a thrilling encounter where the Rockets chased a target of 124 runs from 100 balls, Brett’s disciplined spell turned heads. She bowled 20 balls, delivering 11 dot balls, and claimed an impressive 3 wickets for just 19 runs, boasting an economical rate of 0.95 runs per ball. Her scalps included key batters Grace Scrivens, Heather Graham, and Eleanor Threlkeld, disrupting the Rockets’ momentum at critical junctures.

Phoebe Brett finishes with 3️⃣ wickets for 1️⃣9️⃣ runs! 🙇#TheHundred https://t.co/Gjmgz26tE1

— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 27, 2025

Scrivens fell for 16, Graham for 3, and Threlkeld for 2, as Brett’s accuracy and variations kept the batting side under pressure. Despite Nat Sciver-Brunt’s explosive 52 off 29 balls, including six fours and two sixes, Brett’s breakthroughs ensured the Rockets finished at 126/7, narrowly surpassing the target. Her ability to bowl tight lines and pick up wickets on a day when others like Megan Schutt (2 wickets) and Em Arlott (1 wicket) also contributed made her stand out.