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The Hundred Women’s Competition, Trent Bridge
Trent Rockets 142-7 (100 balls): Gardner 34 (22); Cap 3-12
London Spirit 146-5 (97 balls): D Klerk 41* (22); Gardner 2-24
London Spirit won by five wickets
All-rounder Nadine de Klerk held her nerve to lead London Spirit to a tight five-wicket victory over Trent Rockets with three balls to spare.
Chasing 143 at Trent Bridge, the Spirit were in trouble at 67-4 after losing four wickets for 12, and opener Grace Harris’ 20-ball 37 was in danger of spoiling their positive start.
But De Klerk and Mary Kelly combined for a 37-ball 63-run counter-attack to lead the Spirit to their first win of the season.
Awaiting power-hitter Diandra Dottin in the dugout, there was some concern about Kelly’s slow start as she stuttered to 12 off 13 balls, but she made an impressive 39 off 26 deliveries.
Still needing victory after his dismissal for 13 runs, the Rockets’ bowlers struggled to take the game deep but de Klerk – who has made a name for himself as a finisher over the last few years – hit two sixes off the last four balls in a nervy 22-ball 41 not out.
Earlier, de Klerk’s fellow South African Marijan Kapp set the tone with a brilliant spell of 3-12 with the ball for the Spirit.
Cap bowled Beth Mooney first ball before Sophia Dunkley and Sophie Lough were removed, but a dynamic 31 off Ash Gardner’s 34 and Bess Heath’s 19 saw the Rockets recover to 142-7.
Gardner was caught at the boundary by England’s Charlie Dean, who also impressed with 2-18, allowing Spirit to keep the run-rate in check as Heath struggled for support from the lower order.
Both teams have won one apiece from two so far, but the Rockets are more comfortable in third place in the table with a higher net run-rate.
The previous match between Manchester Super Giants and Birmingham Phoenix was abandoned without a ball at Old Trafford.
