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Callum Matthews
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sport cricket writer

Trent Rockets kept their women's Hundred play-off hopes alive with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Welsh Fire.

Chasing 101 to win, Rockets knew they needed to win within 90 balls to climb above Birmingham Phoenix into third place, and eventually, after a slow start, won off 82 deliveries.

Elyse Villani, who captained instead of England's Nat Sciver, finished unbeaten on 55 off 40 balls, while South Africa's Mignon du Preeez made a 20-ball 32 not out.

The Rockets were brilliant in the field, restricting Fire to 100-8, with Bryony Smith, Sciver and Katherine Brunt all taking two wickets apiece.

Australia's Nicola Carey top-scored with 27 for Fire, who finish the tournament with just one win from their six games.

The win for Rockets means that Phoenix must beat London Spirit on Tuesday if they want to progress to the knockout stages. Manchester Originals and Northern Superchargers are both mathematically still able to qualify, but would require big net run-rate swings in their favour.

What else happened?

• England opener Tammy Beaumont hit the first four balls of the game for four, but Fire then only hit another five fours in the remaining 96 balls. They went from the 23rd delivery to the 92nd without hitting one.
• Villani and Du Preez's unbroken stand was worth 64 off 40 balls as Rockets accelerated to win the game within the required timeframe.
• Sciver stepped back from captaincy to "concentrate on her own game" and finished with 2-22 with the ball and made five with the bat. She recently stepped in for Heather Knight during England's series against South Africa and during the Commonwealth Games and appeared set to do the same in September's games against India.

Image source, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Trent Rockets' Katherine Brunt, speaking Sky Sports, said: "These wickets have not been extremely nice to bowl on. They were well-used, not much pace you can get out of them so you have to hammer a certain length and change it up. As we've gone on we've learnt a bit more in this tournament. I have not been a dot ball bowler, but it was great to chip in with wickets."

On their Eliminator chances: "Well, we've gone from one emotion to another, I don't know where I am at right now. Now, we've won with 15 balls to spare so it's put us in a massive position. That's this format of the game, anything can happen."

On her emotions: "For 20 years I have been fiery, it's been one thing for me. The control of emotions is key, I need to channel it the right way and that's been part of my success. I feel my leg cutters have been sent to the moon this tournament but you have to keep churning them out and trying."

Image source, Getty Images

Welsh Fire skipper Tammy Beaumont, speaking to Sky Sports: "We didn't bat well enough, that killed the game for us. We left far too much for the middle-order batters. If you lose three early ones that's where you lose the game.

"It's been hugely disappointing campaign. To come away with one win is hugely disappointing. Apart from today and one other game we have competed. Results could have gone our way in other games, and they just haven't. But there have been some positives such as Lauren Filer, bowling aggressive lengths at a good pace.

"We have to look after the young players such as Lauren who isn't even a full-time professional. She has been brilliant. Not everyone is professional - we have a few teachers who are back to work next week, not in the gym or working on their skills."

Image source, Getty Images

Match hero Elyse Villani: "Our bowlers did a great job first up which relieved the pressure on the batters. We were able to come in and play really positive. We had a couple of great partnerships there which really helps.

"At half-time we were just thinking about winning the game first and foremost. Once we got into a position we then spoke about how many balls we had to give ourselves the best chance to reach the semi-finals. We wanted to be really positive and brave and I felt we did that really well."

On Mignon du Preez's performance: "Mignon is a great player. She would have liked to have scored more runs before this game but it is a really fickle game and you sometimes don't have the rub of it. But we have always backed her and you can see why as she is such a clean striker of the ball. She came out and won the game for us."

One being stand-in captain: "Nat Sciver has had a lot on her plate so I was happy to come in and let her focus on being an all-rounder, which is hard enough."

A quick reminder that we'll have live text commentary of the men's match between Trent Rockets and Welsh Fire (which starts at 19:00 BST) a little later on.

Nikesh Rughani
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio

They weren't really at the races today, again. Welsh Fire will be very disappointed with their campaign.

Less said about Welsh Fire the better. Another bad day at the office.

Nikesh Rughani
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio

It's a comprehensive victory. Hugs and high-fives all around, they know they have put themselves in a fantastic position - it puts them well above Birmingham Phoenix in terms of net run rate. It was a thoroughly controlled chase.

Rockets winpublished at 17:49 British Summer Time 29 August 2022

17:49 BST 29 August 2022

And there it is! Mignon du Preez with back-to-back fours as she again wallops Annabel Sutherland straight down the ground.

An emphatic win for Trent Rockets, and they leapfrog Birmingham Phoenix into third spot on net run rate having got the job done with 18 balls to spare.

Easy as you like.

Annabel Sutherland smacked down the ground by Mignon du Preez first ball.

One more boundary wins it from here.

Lydia Greenway
Former England batter on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio

Du Preez is just finding a bit of form, she's been quiet so far in the tournament. The bats these days are so good.

Mignon du Preez goes down the ground off Nicola Carey to pick up another boundary.

Effectively seven runs needed off 10 balls needed for the Rockets here.

Bonus runs off Nicola Carey, as a Welsh Fire shies at the stumps and the Rockets pick up extra runs off the deflection.

Great game awareness from Aussie Elyse Villani and South African Mignon du Preez to steal the extra run.

The scenario is effectively 16 off 15 balls for Trent Rockets to get themselves up to third spot on net run rate.

Annabel Sutherland stems the runs a little for Welsh Fire. Just two runs from her set of five.

Meanwhile, here's a lovely six from Elyse Villani from a little earlier.

Aatif Nawaz
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio

What a way to get to her half-century, Elyse Villani, with a picture-perfect knock in this format of the game. She's controlled the rate and taken responsibility.

Fifty for Villanipublished at 30 balls left

30 balls left

Well batted Elyse Villani, who has done the business for her side.

She goes down town to hit Alex Hartley's final ball for four.

At 84-2, Rockets look good to get this done with plenty to spare. 18 needed.

James Taylor
Former England batter on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio

They are rocketing, indeed. That was crunched over long on. it's probably the easier side to go against Hartley because she bowls round arm and doesn't spin the ball too much. They have got this game wrapped up now for sure.