Sublime Root leads Rockets into Hundred knockouts

The Hundred men's competition, Sophia Gardens

Welsh Fire 150-6 (100 balls): Eskinazi 53 (42); Cook 2-17

Trent Rockets 152-7 (99 balls): Root 64* (41); Green 2-34

Trent Rockets won by three wickets

Scorecard. Table

Joe Root's sublime 64 not out led Trent Rockets to a tense three-wicket win over Welsh Fire and confirmed their place in the knockouts of The Hundred men's competition.

Chasing 151 at Cardiff, Rockets were cruising at 116-2 with 25 balls to go, but lost five wickets for 20 runs as Fire's bowlers dragged themselves back into contention.

With the visitors needing 18 from 10 balls, David Payne removed Marcus Stoinis and David Willey to make Fire the favourites with 14 needed from five.

But Root held his nerve, whacking a six and a four to regain control and Sam Hain struck the winning runs with a ball to spare.

Rockets' victory also confirmed the top three sides and eliminated the rest, as they joined Oval Invincibles and Northern Superchargers at the top of the table.

Fire were left to rue a no-ball by Payne, as he had Root caught at point from the fourth ball of the innings when he was yet to score but the third umpire confirmed that the seamer had decisively overstepped.

The rest of Root's 41-ball knock was chanceless, including four fours and three sixes as he kept his composure among the chaos with Tom Banton's 32 the next highest contribution.

Earlier, Fire's own innings started curiously as they trudged along at around a run a ball for the first 60 deliveries, with Steve Smith and Jonny Bairstow both falling early for eight.

Opener Stephen Eskinazi recovered his knock, kicking on to 53 from 42 balls including a six off David Willey which cleared the Sophia Gardens pavilion, as he added 97 for the third wicket with Tom Abell.

But Fire lost momentum as the pair fell in consecutive balls and they struggled to kick on without a set batter at the end of the innings.

The final standings of the men's table are yet to be decided, however, with the table toppers going straight through to the final on 31 August.

Second and third face each other in the Eliminator at The Oval on 30 August, with the winner progressing to the final.

Duckett leads Phoenix to win over Originals

The Hundred men's competition, Old Trafford

Manchester Originals 109-7 (100 balls): Klaasen 34 (35); Wood 2-11, Livingstone 2-11

Birmingham Phoenix 113-3 (83 balls): Duckett 49 (38); Tongue 2-34

Birmingham Phoenix won by seven wickets

Scorecard. Table

Ben Duckett hit an unbeaten 49 as Birmingham Phoenix beat Manchester Originals by seven wickets in The Hundred.

Chasing 110, the visiting opener put on a partnership of 72 with Joe Clarke for the second wicket.

Clarke was caught behind off Josh Tongue with 19 runs required, but Duckett steered his side home with 17 balls to spare, winning a match between two eliminated sides.

Home captain Phil Salt won the toss and chose to bat, and that decision initially seemed to be a good one as he drove his side to 34-1 at the end of the powerplay.

However, four balls after its conclusion Salt was caught by Duckett off Jacob Bethell's bowling for 31, and the home side struggled thereafter.

Phoenix skipper Liam Livingstone deployed spin bowlers and medium-pacer Benny Howell over his overseas quicks, responding to a difficult pitch which had produced a low-scoring women's match earlier in the day.

The big-hitting Heinrich Klaasen typified Originals' struggles, top-scoring with 34 but going at under a run a ball and appearing visibly frustrated during his innings.

He fell to Chris Wood, who took 2-11 late in the innings as Phoenix restricted their opponents to 109-7 despite putting down four catches.

The visitors lost Will Smeed for 13, caught behind off Sonny Baker, but Clarke and Duckett ensured a largely smooth chase.

Phoenix's third win sees them move above London Spirit and Southern Brave to take fourth position, while Originals slip to the bottom of the standings on net run-rate.

What is happening on Monday?

It is a decisive day for London Spirit in the women's competition as they look to boost their top-three hopes by beating Oval Invincibles at The Oval at 15:00 BST.

The men's game follows at 18:30 BST. Invincibles are assured of a place in the knockouts while Spirit are already out.

You can follow ball-by-ball commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.