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Ffion Wynne
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sport cricket writer

Southern Brave qualified for The Hundred knockout stages after thrashing a feeble Trent Rockets by 10 wickets at the Ageas Bowl.

Trent Rockets limped to just 88-8 from their 100 balls, with Elyse Villani's 25 and Marie Kelly's 22 from 15 balls the only contributions of note.

Captain Nat Sciver struggled to 19 from 30 balls as the Rockets were suffocated by some outstanding Brave bowling.

Lauren Bell took the best figures of this year's women's Hundred with 4-10 and leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington claimed 3-18.

In reply, openers Danni Wyatt and Smriti Mandhana guided Brave to their target with 44 balls to spare, Mandhana wrapping up victory with a six to finish 57 not out off 31 balls.

Brave are in a strong position to finish top of the table with five wins from five, which would take them straight into the final, while finishing second or third would see them play in the eliminator.

But Birmingham Phoenix and Oval Invincibles are also still in contention to finish top.

Image source, Getty Images

Here's what also happened:

• Rockets' batting struggled from the outset as Bryony Smith fell for a duck from the second ball of the innings.
• Bell and Wellington dismantled the middle order and the Rockets were unable to score a boundary from the last 53 balls.

• Mandhana's 57 included nine fours and two sixes while Wyatt hit seven fours in her 36 not out.

What's next?

• Southern Brave continue their quest to remain unbeaten in the group stages as they take on Northern Superchargers on Wednesday 31 August, while Trent Rockets host bottom of the table Welsh Fire on Monday 29 August.

Southern Brave skipper Anya Shrubsole to Sky Sports: "It was pretty close to perfect to be honest with you.

"I thought all of the bowlers were outstanding. We really restricted them and then Lauren [Bell] and Wello [Amanda-Jane Wellington] were outstanding, seven wickets between them.

"And the way the two openers batted was outstanding too, so I'm really pleased.

"Bowlers know when they are going to bowl and what their role is. We've got Belly and Wello who are our real wicket-takers but then you've got Georgia Adams, myself and others who restrict runs so I think it works really well as an attack.

"It was a real team effort and it comes down to the girls wanting to do the hard yards.

"It was one of those nice days as a captain where you bring on a bowler and they seem to get a wicket - those days are few and far between so you enjoy them while they last.

"We would like to go one better than last year - I think we are a stronger unit than we were last year. We would like to go straight through to the final so we will be going up to Headingley to try to win that game."

Match Hero Lauren Bell to Sky Sports: "My gameplan was just to hit a good length, make batters play off the stumps.

"Obviously we've defended well in these games so it was good to bowl first today too.

"The plan is always to take wickets in the powerplay and get the team off to a really good start.

"Wello [Amanda-Jane Wellington] has done a great job for us in the middle of these games and always comes on to take wickets.

"We discussed the conditions and realised pace offers a really good option, so we started with that and it went well.

"The mood in the camp is great - we've got one more game and we want to get straight through to the final so we just need to push one more time."

Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio

We speak about how Southern Brave always find a way to win. They didn't need to find any here, it was too easy.

For me Southern Brave are the team to beat.

Dominant.

Southern Brave clinch a play-off spot. And on this display it will take some team to stop them winning this year's Women's Hundred.

Smriti Mandhana bludgeoned 57* off 31 balls while Danni Wyatt added support with 36* off 25.

Lauren Bell's 4-10 and Amanda-Jade Wellington's 3-18 earlier in the afternoon played just as big a role in the win, restricting Rockets to such a lowly total.

Henry Moeran
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio

What a way to conclude the game! That is decisive, dismissive and devastating!

Brave 94-0published at 17:27 British Summer Time 25 August 2022

17:27 BST 25 August 2022

Mandhana seals it in style by smashing Bryony Smith for six.

50 for Mandhanapublished at 45 balls left

45 balls left

Brave 88-0

And there it is! A lovely half-century for Smriti Mandhana as a pull shot squeezes past a fielder and trickles to the ropes - just!

Three dot balls follow as Mandhana waits for the one to pick off.

Well a fumble in the field helps as Mandhana takes a two, up to 47.

At least the Rockets have taken it past the halfway stage.

Can Smriti Mandhana get her 50?

Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio

Alana King has been having a good tournament so far, but that was simply outstanding from Mandhana, going well over long-off.

for Mandhanapublished at 52 balls left

52 balls left

Brave 81-0

The first six of the innings as Smriti Mandhana absolutely crushes Alana King back down the ground.

Alana King's spin back into the attack. Brave take a couple of easy singles as they continue towards the inevitable win.

Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio

That was a lovely shot from Smriti Mandhana! It almost seems like these two teams have batted on completely different wickets.

Smriti Mandhana had taken a back seat but she cuts Nat Sciver to the ropes and then lofts her away again for back-to-back boundaries.

Mandhana on 37, Danni Wyatt on 35.

Melissa Story
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio commentator

Nat Sciver is not having the best day. Not too many with the bat either.

We highlighted the Wyatt-Sciver match-up at the start of this match.

Clear to see who is winning it - and Wyatt underlines the point by heaving her England team-mate to the off-side. Just short of six. But another four.

To quote one of my old favourite wrestling commentator cliches, Trent Rockets have two chances of winning this match - slim and none. And slim has just left the building.