The Hundred women’s competition, Trent Bridge
Trent Rockets 139-7 (100 balls): Dunkley 56 (33); Jonassen 2-20
Sunrisers Leeds 134-5 (100 balls): Sutherland 59* (30); Phillips 1-10
Trent Rockets won by five runs
Trent Rockets held off a late assault from Annabel Sutherland and Lauren Winfield-Hill to beat defending champions Sunrisers Leeds by five runs and extend their winning streak to three matches.
Defending 139 at Trent Bridge after failing to capitalise on Sophia Dunkley’s 29-ball half-century, economical bowling helped Rockets reduce Sunrisers to 76-4.
However, with 55 runs required off the final 20 balls, Sutherland dispatched Georgia Elwiss for 23 runs, including sending two full tosses away for six, to drag Sunrisers back into the match.
She and Winfield-Hill reduced the equation to 17 off five but when the latter was run out with three deliveries remaining, she took Sunrisers’ hopes of victory with her.
Sutherland finished the match with a six to end unbeaten on 59 (30), with her partnership with Winfield-Hill (15) worth 50 off just 27 deliveries.
Earlier, Rockets had appeared well set for a sizeable total after Dunkley backed up her 57 against Manchester Super Giants on Friday with a knock of 56 (33), including nine fours, before being bowled by Sutherland.
Nat Sciver-Brunt and Ashleigh Gardner briefly maintained the pressure, including taking Dani Gibson’s second set for 18 to carry Rockets beyond three figures off just 65 balls, but Sunrisers fought back with the ball.
Jess Jonassen and Hannah Baker took two wickets apiece as Rockets slumped from 105-2 to 118-6, with the hosts also failing to hit a boundary for 32 deliveries as their hopes of a 150-plus total faded.
A trio of fours from Bess Heath in the final set proved crucial, putting Rockets’ total just out of Sunrisers’ reach.
Trent Rockets’ fourth victory of the tournament moves them to within four points of unbeaten Southern Brave at the top of the table. Sunrisers Leeds, who are without a win since their opener, slip to seventh.