Southern Brave vs Trent Rockets Match 29 Full Commentary

We are all set for Southern Brave's reply with the bat! The players have already taken their positions on the field. Jamie Smith and Moeen Ali will open the partnership for the Brave. Ben Sanderson has the new ball in hand. Away we go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Ready for the second innings? 158 on a Trent Bridge surface is a pretty decent total, and if the home team ends up chipping a couple of early wickets, the game will be set for them. On the other side, the Brave batters would be looking to keep their composure and avoid playing any rash shots from the start. First, their motive should be to get settled on the track and then trigger the score. With that, the stage is set for the second chapter of this contest.

Fireworks at the death - Ben Duckett got things moving with a brisk 17, while Finn Allen and Aneurin Donald both struck a couple of blows to keep the scoreboard ticking in the powerplay. Sam Billings and Tim David chipped in with useful cameos, but it was the sixth-wicket stand between Mitchell Santner and Lewis Gregory, 28 off 18 deliveries, that gave the innings its real launchpad, an unbroken 66-run partnership late on. For Southern Brave, Adil Rashid, Chris Jordan, Marcus Stoinis, Daniel Worrall and Moeen Ali all chipped in one each, but it's Worrall who has been the standout of the bowlers for keeping his economy under 5.50.

Up for a quick chat - Southern Brave's Daniel Worrall says that it is a good score on a pitch that is flat but dry as well. Adds that the team needs to maintain their momentum into the back end and not get bogged down. Reflecting on his delivery to Donald, he says he used all his willpower not to bowl a wrong’un after seeing the batter move slightly, as that ball usually goes for six. He adds that he hopes the conditions cool down and the lights help the ball come onto the bat better. Worrall says the team now needs to take down Santner and push for a win. He acknowledges that the campaign has not gone the way they would have wanted, but stresses that as professionals, they have to give their best in front of their friends, family and fans.

Who got the upper hand? Well, the game looks pretty even after the end of the innings. The pitch is not looking completely in favour of either department. The bowlers are getting some extra bounce off the deck if they hit it hard, and the batters are able to hit some runs if they have some patience. If we talk about the Rockets, huge credit goes to Mitchell Santner for anchoring the innings with all his experience, with the crucial support of Lewis, and putting 158 total on the board.

Chris Jordan to bowl the final set of five.

Last 10 balls left in the innings! Marcus Stoinis to bowl the penultimate set.

Big day ahead in the Hundred - That brings this thrilling contest to a close, with Southern Brave denying Trent Rockets the chance to secure a direct spot in the final for now. Earlier, Trent Rockets Women had defeated the Brave to book their place in the final, but the Men could not complete the double and must now wait and hope. The Hundred now heads to Old Trafford for a huge double-header on Tuesday, August 11, with Manchester Super Giants taking on Sunrisers Leeds. The Women’s clash gets underway at 1.45 pm GMT (7.15 pm IST), with the winner reaching the Eliminator and the loser going home, before the Men’s game at 5.30 pm GMT (11 pm IST), where a Sunrisers Leeds win sends them straight into the final, while Manchester need victory to keep the pressure on the chasing pack. A massive day awaits, so join us early for all the build-up to both games. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

The captain of Trent Rockets - Sam Billings admits it is frustrating, but emphasizes the need to give credit where it is due, noting that Marcus Stoinis completely changed the game in a short span and Tristan Stubbs played a crucial knock to guide their side over the line. He feels his team delivered a better overall performance on the night, as many had expected, but acknowledges that the close loss simply highlights the high quality of the competition. When asked about the possibility of advancing straight to the final, he states he would definitely prefer skipping the Eliminator, adding that they will be cheering for Jos Buttler and Manchester to win their upcoming match. Commenting on the format of The Hundred, he praises it as a brilliant concept that brings bowlers back into the game when they are on top and allows teams to apply the squeeze on the opposition. He concludes that the format is less formulaic than traditional T20 cricket, leading to more dynamic, unpredictable, and tightly contested matches.

The victorious skipper of Southern Brave - Chris Jordan says it has been an almost season for the Brave, with the team competing in every game and being involved in several tight contests, but failing to get over the line in key moments. He adds that getting the better of a very good team at the top of the table made the victory particularly pleasing. Reflecting on their struggles, Jordan says the difference had often come down to one or two key moments. He explains that while the team had shown the temperament at times, there were occasions when they had not quite executed. Across the season, he says the focus had been on playing complementary cricket rather than making it a battle between bat and ball, whether they had enough runs or defended well with the ball. On the batting, Jordan says they had not quite found the right tempo throughout the season. He points to Stoinis as a perfect example of getting ahead of the game, taking on the spinner confidently from his first few balls before rotating the strike and building from there.

Presentation Time...

Too little, too late for Trent - Trent Rockets would have believed they were in the game with that total, but they could not find the early wickets. Craig Overton eventually provided the first breakthrough before Calvin Harrison struck twice in the middle, though his two overs cost 32 runs and included Stoinis getting off to a flying start. The Aussie never looked back, taking the game away from the Rockets. Sanderson eventually removed him, but the damage was already done and it was too little, too late.

Rockets get contributions across the board - Earlier, Trent Rockets posted a good total with contributions from almost everyone, as all seven batters who got in scored in double digits. Finn Allen and Aneurin Donald provided the early sparks before Mitchell Santner and Lewis Gregory added a crucial 66-run stand to revive the innings after a quiet middle phase, with the Kiwi top-scoring with 35* off 23. Southern Brave had a mixed outing with the ball, with everyone except Moeen Ali and Manny Lumsden picking up a wicket. Daniel Worrall was the pick, conceding just 21 in 20 balls, but they leaked a few too many runs towards the end.

The Hulk and Stubbs show - Southern Brave’s opening duo of Moeen Ali and Jamie Smith came out firing, taking them to 40/0 in the Powerplay, but neither converted their starts, while Miller managed only a cameo. Stubbs then anchored the chase with regular boundaries before skipper Marcus Stoinis joined him and shifted gears instantly. The pair picked their targets smartly and rotated the strike to stitch up a match-winning 70-run stand off 41 balls. Stoinis fell with 11 needed from seven, but Stubbs stayed calm, sealed the chase with a six and brought up a match-winning fifty.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Tristan Stubbs wins the award for his match-winning knock of 52* off 28 balls. He starts off by agreeing that securing a consolation win was a nice way to wrap up the tournament, though he admits it remains disappointing given the effort the team put in over the past month. Reflecting on their campaign, he shares that looking back is somewhat frustrating because the group gave everything, noting that after losing a couple of tight early matches, it became difficult to build momentum across the competition. Discussing his adjustment to The Hundred, he confesses that he personally found the format very tough, explaining that looking at the unique scoreboard can make it confusing to judge the game situation. About the pitch conditions, he notes that the surfaces in Southampton were challenging to bat on, particularly with the large outfield, which made it difficult for teams batting first to gauge a good total. Stubbs expresses relief at finally building a solid partnership to secure a victory, adding that compared to other tracks they had played on, this pitch felt like a flat road, which made batting much easier for him and Marcus Stoinis. Ends by saying that he thoroughly enjoyed his time in the UK, describing The Hundred as a great competition and a wonderful month-long experience.

Brave end campaign on high - Southern Brave end their campaign with a fantastic win, becoming only the second team to defeat Trent Rockets this season and bringing their six-match unbeaten run to an end. More importantly, the Rockets miss out on a direct final spot and must now wait on the Manchester Super Giants vs Sunrisers Leeds result. Leeds already have a better NRR, so Sam Billings and Co. will be hoping for a Super Giants win or a tie.

Sam Billings, Mitchell Santner, and Ben Duckett are in discussion to decide who will bowl the final set. Looks like they have come to a decision, and it will be Lewis Gregory, who has been doing this all season.

Is there a late twist in this one? Nikhil Chaudhary is the next man in.

Last 10 balls of the chase. Southern Brave need 18 runs to win. This is going down to the wire. Also, Ben Sanderson will continue. Sunrisers Leeds and Manchester Super Giants will be keeping a close eye on this one as well, as a slip from Rockets will give either of them a chance to steal the top spot.

Ben Sanderson comes back into the attack.