Summary

  • The Hundred: Trent Rockets v Birmingham Phoenix men, Trent Bridge

  • Rockets chase 112 to win by three wickets with one ball to spare

  • Rockets 113-7 (99 balls): Ahmed 37 (23); Bethell 2-22

  • In passing 69 during chase, Rockets guaranteed second spot in table

  • It means they will progress to Sunday's final v Invincibles if Saturday's Eliminator v Superchargers is washed out

  • Already-eliminated Phoenix made 111-9 (100 balls): Mousley 26 (25); Ahmed 3-15

  1. Goodbyepublished at 21:30 British Summer Time 27 August

    That's all from us this evening - if you missed any of the action from Trent Rockets' narrow win, Matt Henry's got you covered with his match report.

    But we'll be back with you tomorrow for the final day of the group stage.

    Southern Brave's women are unbeaten, have already booked their place in the final and are in a very strong position to go eight from eight as they take on bottom-placed Welsh Fire at 15:00 BST.

    The men's game follows at 18:30 BST with both teams already eliminated.

    We look forward to you joining us then before the big weekend to decide The Hundred winners for 2025!

  2. 'Clarity was the most important thing for us'published at 21:27 British Summer Time 27 August

    Trent Rockets batter Joe Root speaking on Sky Sports: "We made the last game difficult too! Heading into crunch time, you need to be able to handle pressure so it sets us up quite nicely for what is to come.

    "It was always going to be a tricky chase and needed a few decent partnerships. It was about being clear of your boundary options and although it wasn't perfect, we got ourselves across the line.

    "Clarity is the most important thing in these games as momentum can shift so quickly. You need to know how you are going to score your runs and make sure you are working well with your partner."

    On his partnership with Rehan Ahmed: "To see how he has taken to this tournament, given the responsibility to bat at number three, he has thrived in that. He has got all the shots. He can hit everyone everywhere. He will get better at understanding when and what time to do that. He is so difficult to bowl at because he can score all around the wicket and he puts bowlers under pressure from ball one."

  3. Postpublished at 21:21 British Summer Time 27 August

    So, Joe Root's Trent Rockets will be taking on Harry Brook's Northern Superchargers in Saturday's Eliminator. It promises to be a cracker, if the rain stays away.

    That game starts at 18:00 BST at The Oval, and the winner will join Oval Invincibles - who are aiming for three titles in a row - on Sunday at Lord's.

  4. 'Spin worked really well on this pitch'published at 21:18 British Summer Time 27 August

    Trent Rockets all-rounder Rehan Ahmed speaking on Sky Sports: "There was a lot of assistance with the pitch for the spinners so I got lucky there.

    "We train on similar surfaces so we had to go out there and do the same thing tonight."

    On his partnership with Joe Root: "We didn't talk much out there, he just kept saying 'keep going' and I made the most of it.

    "Ben Cox was always going to do it for us, there was never any doubt."

  5. Postpublished at 21:16 British Summer Time 27 August

    Media caption,

    'A very bad decision' - Bethell removed by Ahmed for a duck

    Trent Rockets are likely to expect very different conditions at The Oval on Saturday, at least!

    11 wickets fell to spin today in a low-scoring encounter, with Rehan Ahmed named the Match Hero for his 3-15 and 37 from 23 balls.

  6. Postpublished at 21:14 British Summer Time 27 August

    Kieran Parmley
    CricViz analyst

    Trent Rockets have now won six of their seven chases this season - four of these successful chases have gone down to the final set of the game.

  7. Postpublished at 21:12 British Summer Time 27 August

    Carlos Brathwaite
    Former West Indies all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    There was nothing on this result but somehow it felt like there was. The pitches that aren't that great to play on make the best matches because anything can happen.

  8. Postpublished at 21:10 British Summer Time 27 August

    Daniel Norcross
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    That was a much tighter game than the Trent Rockets would have imagined.

  9. TRENT ROCKETS WIN BY THREE WICKETSpublished at 21:08 British Summer Time 27 August
    Breaking

    Ben Cox holds his nerve and sweeps for four!

    Trent Rockets end the group stage with a closely-fought victory. The result didn't matter in the end as they had already secured second place in the table, but getting over the line in a tense encounter will give them plenty of confidence going into Saturday's Eliminator.

  10. Rockets 109-7published at 2 balls left

    Good running.

    Ben Cox sprints back for two.

    Three runs from two balls.

  11. Rockets 107-7published at 3 balls left

    Dot ball!

    Five from three.

  12. Rockets 107-7published at 4 balls left

    Jacob Bethell will bowl 10 straight through.

    Max Holden reverse sweeps for a single. Five from four.

  13. Postpublished at 21:05 British Summer Time 27 August

    Daniel Norcross
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    You can understand that Sam Hain wanted to go to the short side but he did not get nearly enough on it.

    This game is going the distance.

  14. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 5 balls left

    Hain c Howell b Bethell 11 (Rockets 106-7)

    Another twist!

    Sam Hain picks out the fielder on the mid-wicket boundary, which brings Max Holden to the crease needing six from five!

  15. Rockets 104-6published at 8 balls left

    Singles from the first two.

    It remains a run a ball. Rockets could do with a boundary.

  16. Postpublished at 21:01 British Summer Time 27 August

    Daniel Norcross
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    You cannot discount the possibility of mayhem but my money would still be on Trent Rockets at this point.

  17. Postpublished at 21:01 British Summer Time 27 August

    Jacob Bethell will bowl at least five of them.

  18. Rockets 102-6published at 10 balls left

    Need 10 runs to win

    That's one way to do it!

    Pace on the ball from Chris Wood and Ben Cox reads it perfectly, ramping over the keeper for four precious runs.

    Who does Liam Livingstone turn to now?

  19. Postpublished at 20:59 British Summer Time 27 August

    Kieran Parmley
    CricViz analyst

    This is only the fourth men's Hundred game in which at least 10 wickets have fallen to spin - the record is currently 12 (LS v TR, Lord's 2021 & MO v NSC, Old Trafford 2023)

  20. Rockets 95-6published at 15 balls left

    Need 17 from 15 balls

    Five runs ticked off Jacob Bethell with minimum fuss.

    Sam Hain looks very calm out there.