The Hundred 2023: Trent Rockets Commence Title Defense with Nail-Biting Victory over Southern Brave in Men’s Kickoff

The Hundred, men’s tournament; Trent Rockets versus Southern Brave
Trent Rockets 133-8 (100 balls): Hain 63 (39); Jordan 3-18, C Overton 2-33
Southern Brave 127 (99 balls): Du Plooy 29 (19); Gregory 3-19, Sams 3-26
Trent Rockets won by a margin of six runs
Scorecard, Table

Trent Rockets launched their title defense in an exciting fashion, securing a hard-fought six-run triumph over Southern Brave in the inaugural match of The Hundred men’s competition.

Sam Hain orchestrated a fantastic innings of 63 runs off 39 deliveries, pulling the Rockets out of a slump at 54-5 and leading them to a respectable 133-8 at Trent Bridge.

Chris Jordan, who had earlier claimed 3-18 with the ball, smashed 22 runs off 11 balls, bringing the Brave tantalizingly close to victory. However, his dismissal in the final overs led to the Brave being bundled out for 127.

Brave Decimate Rockets in women’s Hundred kickoff
The Men’s Teams in The Hundred 2023: A Close Look
The Women’s Teams in The Hundred 2023: A Close Look

Initially put in to bat, the Rockets found themselves in hot water early on as English duo Alex Hales and Dawid Malan were sent back to the pavilion by Craig Overton during the powerplay.

The Rockets’ wicket woes continued until Hain was joined by Imad Wasim, the Pakistani all-rounder who was a last-minute replacement for the injured Rashid Khan.

Following a brief spell of steadying the innings, the pair started to gather momentum, with Hain impressing the crowd with a series of stylish shots, including a unique reverse pull for four during their 78-run partnership.

The stand was finally broken due to Jordan’s excellent fielding effort that saw Hain run out. Jordan then managed to dismiss Wasim and Matthew Carter with his subsequent deliveries, earning a team hat-trick.

Despite the challenging pitch conditions, the 2021 champions Brave embarked on a steady start, hitting 41-0 before a middle-order meltdown led them to 89-6.

Leus du Plooy and Jordan managed to keep the Brave’s hopes alive, and despite Du Plooy’s dismissal by Luke Wood, Jordan’s powerful strokes kept the conclusion tense.

However, it was the Rockets who emerged victorious. Australian left-arm bowler Daniel Sams dismissed Jordan with just three balls remaining, and after Overton was run out on the next ball, Sams trapped Tymal Mills lbw, securing the win with a second team hat-trick in the game.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Fans can catch The Hundred matches live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer every Wednesday and Saturday throughout the tournament, with the finals set for Sunday, 27 August.

The Hundred 2023, Trent Rockets, Southern Brave, Cricket Match, Title Defense