Postpublished at 19:09 British Summer Time 25 August 2022
Melissa Story
BBC Radio commentator
Paul Stirling with the golden arm picks up a massive wicket! That was catching practice.
Summary
Rockets struggle for fluency but manage to post 138-6 as Malan hits 59
Brave look out of contention with 66 needed off last 30 balls
But a superb stand of 71 between Davies (51 not out) and Whiteley (30) takes them close
David hits two massive sixes to help them seal victory with five balls to spare
Rockets miss chance to go top and seal knockout spot, Brave keep slim hopes alive
Friday's matches: Welsh Fire v Northern Superchargers women (15:30 BST) & men (19:00)
Postpublished at 19:09 British Summer Time 25 August 2022
WICKETpublished at 12 balls
Hales c Davies b Stirling 8 (Rockets 17-1)
The key batter goes!
Alex Hales gets one all wrong, hitting the ball straight to point. An easy dismissal and Stirling has his wicket.
Postpublished at 19:09 British Summer Time 25 August 2022
Part-timer Paul Stirling will bowl the next set.
Running up that hill by Kate Bush is playing at the Ageas Bowl. I'm very jealous of those in the crowd.
Rockets 15-0published at 10 balls
Nothing wrong with this shot though. Dawid Malan drives Baker through the covers for a classy four.
The Rockets are ticking along nicely.
Postpublished at 19:06 British Summer Time 25 August 2022
Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC RadioNot quite where Malan wanted to go but he gets away with it. He was probably targeting deep point.
Rockets 11-0published at 8 balls
Ooooh that's close as Dawid Malan edges the ball for four. Streaky, but Malan gets away with it.
Postpublished at 19:05 British Summer Time 25 August 2022
Melissa Story
BBC Radio commentatorHales has had plenty of success in recent years and the question always remains, will he travel with the England squad for the T20 World Cup?
Rockets 6-0published at 5 balls
Hogan recovers well, getting a yorker right next ball and forcing a block.
Sonny Baker will bowl the next set.
Postpublished at 19:04 British Summer Time 25 August 2022
Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC RadioAlex Hales stepped outside the leg stump to give himself room. Lovely start for the Rockets.
Rockets 6-0published at 4 balls
And that's our first boundary as Alex Hales smashes Michael Hogan through the covers for four.
Top start.
Rockets 1-0published at 1 ball
Dawid Malan and Alex Hales; the number one and number five top scorers of this year's men's tournament.
Not a bad opening partnership for the Rockets.
Hales gets off the mark with a single, tickling Michael Hogan to the leg side.
Postpublished at 18:58 British Summer Time 25 August 2022
The players are coming out. This is your two-minute warning.
Listen to every ball livepublished at 18:55 British Summer Time 25 August 2022
BBC Radio 5 Sports ExtraYou can also listen to Radio 5 Sports Extra commentary of this evening's game.
Simply use the audio button at the top of the page to do so online, or tune in on your radio.
Get it on.
Brave on brink but Rockets firingpublished at 18:52 British Summer Time 25 August 2022
Southern Brave v Trent Rockets (19:00 BST)
Defending champions Southern Brave continue their bid to pull off one of the greatest escapology acts of all time at the Ageas Bowl tonight.
Victory last time out over Welsh Fire kept them slim qualification hopes alive but they have to win both of their remaining games, hope a string of results go in their favour and turn around a hefty net run rate deficit.
No such worries for second-placed Trent Rockets, who need just one win from their final two games to reach the knockout stages - and even if they lose both, the 10 points they have already accumulated might still be enough anyway.
Image source, BBC SportToday's match-up: Stirling v Halespublished at 18:49 British Summer Time 25 August 2022
Image source, BBC SportWe've gone with openers Paul Stirling and Alex Hales for our key battle tonight.
Brave's Stirling is in this year's edition as a replacement for Marcus Stoinis but he's already making an instant impact.
He smashed 74 off 42 balls as the Brave thrashed Welsh Fire last time out.
Stirling's 121-run partnership with South Africa's Quinton de Kock was the second-highest in the history of the men's Hundred.
Hales has been Mr Consistent this summer. Four of his six scores in the Hundred this year have been over 35, with Hales striking 59 off 29 against the Oval Invincibles last Wednesday.
He's currently averaging 34.17 in the competition right now. Are the England selectors watching?
Team newspublished at 18:47 British Summer Time 25 August 2022
Southern Brave: Paul Stirling, Quinton de Kock (wk), James Vince (c), Alex Davies, Tim David, Ross Whiteley, James Fuller, Rehan Ahmed, Jake Lintott, Sonny Baker, Michael Hogan.
Trent Rockets: Dawid Malan, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Tom Moores (wk), Lewis Gregory (c), Daniel Sams, Samit Patel, Luke Wood, Sam Cook, Tabraiz Shamsi.
Welcomepublished at 18:45 British Summer Time 25 August 2022
Image source, Getty ImagesThe knockouts are on the horizon.
Earlier, Southern Brave women qualified for the Hundred knockout stages after thrashing a feeble Trent Rockets by 10 wickets.
Now it's the penultimate round of matches in the group stages of the men's tournament and it's still all to play for.
The Trent Rockets could cement their place in the next round with a win tonight. The Southern Brave need a victory to keep their hopes of progression alive.
Who will be celebrating this evening?
Southern Brave have won the toss and chosen to bowl first.