Somerset teammates help Rockets to lead
Somerset stars Lewis Gregory and Marchant de Lange have been continuing their contributions as Trent Rockets lead the men’s Hundred competition after four games played.
Gregory only managed four runs in seven balls before being caught out off the bowling of Somerset teammate Roelof van der Merwe, but Rockets were still able to beat London Spirit by seven runs last Thursday. van der Merwe finished unbeaten on 25 from 18 balls as the run chase ended in vain, de Lange finishing with 0-20.
The Rockets then suffered a six wicket defeat on Sunday to Birmingham Phoenix as Gregory this time only managed three runs from five balls as Rockets posted 144 - de Lange then bowled just five balls for six runs before Phoenix ran out winners.
In the Women’s Hundred, Danielle Gibson put in a strong performance despite Spirit losing to Rockets. Western Storm’s Gibson took two catches, a wicket and a run out as Rockets ended on 151-4, before then ending unbeaten on 18 from 12 balls but Spirit could only reach 133 in reply.
Southern Brave currently lead the way after an eight wicket win over Phoenix.
Anya Shrubsole bowled 1-20 to restrict Phoenix to 140, with former Storm star Stafanie Taylor ending unbeaten on 22 from 14 balls to see Brave over the line.
The men made it a double for Brave with a four wicket victory, helped by Somerset’s Devon Conway’s 34 from 27 balls as they chased down 151.
Saturday saw Welsh Fire take on Manchester Originals, with both sides gaining a win.
Somerset’s Tom Banton opened with 15 from 10 balls for Fire as they posted 150, which the Originals managed to reach with five balls to spare. Storm’s Georgia Hennessey took 2-20 as the Originals fell to just 120-6 in the women’s encounter before Fire eased to a nine wicket victory.
Brave then met Spirit on Sunday with the Brave picking up a double victory.
Heather Knight could only score three runs alongside Gibson’s two as Spirit were bowled out for just 93 - Shrubsole claiming 1-14 and Taylor 1-20. Taylor was then on hand with an unbeaten 29 to edge Brave over the line with eight balls and seven wickets in hand.
As for the men, Conway was amongst the runs again for Brave as he struck 22 before being caught and bowled by Somerset teammate van der Merwe who ended on 1-5. He then finished unbeaten on seven from six balls, but Spirit were unable to catch Brave’s 145, falling just four runs short.
On Monday, the matches were shared between the Invincibles and Fire. Sophie Luff ended unbeaten on 12 with Georgia Hennessey out for three as Fire posted 112 before holding on for a win.
Banton managed just two as Fire were unable to defend their 121 in the men’s match.