N S-Chargers vs Rockets, Eliminator at London, Men's Hundred, Aug 30 2025 - Ball by Ball Commentary

9.55pm Nothing left to see here. It was a bold effort from Superchargers, with Dan Lawrence's 44 not out from 29 balls to the fore. But Rockets endure. Join us again tomorrow for the final... can Joe Root and Co. deny Invincibles their three-peat? We shall see!

9.52pm Handshakes! It is done. Trent Rockets progress to the final as the heavy rain wrecks Northern Superchargers' spirited challenge. It could have been a very dicey finish for the Rockets, their target was a stiff one in these conditions. But now they can rest up as best they can, and head over the Thames to Lord's to take on Oval Invincibles tomorrow evening.

9.45pm Really hard to see how this one restarts now. It is properly minging out there now. Lee Fortis and the umps are chatting in the mizzle.

Kasinathan: "Why don't the umpires call it quits and allow Rockets to take rest before the final which is hardly 18 hours away" Well, by 10.15pm they will have to... I guess we've come so far, we might as well go a little further...

9.43pm Matthew Potts to share the honours, as the rain makes its return! A perfect intervention as far as Rockets are concerned. They've kept themselves ahead of the initial required rate, and now DLS will reduce their requirement (and their balls) further... We are now just 14 minutes from that 9.58pm cut-off... although, there are only 20 balls needed to constitute a game now, so that might yet be extended beyond 10pm ... cricket eh?

9.33pm It's not quite terminal! The cover is off again, the umpires are coming out... we might yet get a resumption, although still some discussion on the boundary's edge first.

9.30pm This feels terminal. A heavy band of rain is rolling in from the south-west, and it doesn't look like relenting in a hurry. We need to be back playing by 9.58pm for a 25-ball chase but obviously the mop-up will take some time too as the water gathers on the covers. A lot of the crowd have given up the ghost.

9.25pm Off comes the players! Lolz. The rain has got heavier again... the covers come on. Rockets are very happy to flee for the dressing-rooms, knowing that a wash-out takes them through.

We will of course get another readjustment with balls being lost as we speak... Harry Brook and his team are very keen to keep going, as you can imagine.

9.49pm It's even heavier now. I think we can start the car...

9.36pm Right, we have a 9.38pm resumption. It's a 55-ball chase, 105 needed! One bowler can bowl 15, four can bowl 10. Will the weather hold? Who rightly knows. The powerplay is now 14 balls.

9.23pm There's some disagreement about the target... 131 has been doing the rounds, but sounds like 134 it is. Out come the players, with Root and Banton tasked with launching this chase in a 19-ball powerplay. A hint of rain in the air, but nothing that will stop them right now. Jacob Duffy has the ball. Play!

9.16pm Right, we are nearly ready for the resumption. A long old night at the Oval, but a chance yet for a grandstand finish.

Joe Root is padded up in the dug-out, no doubt visualising his forthcoming role. A lot resting on his remarkable form.

Oval Invincibles await the winner of this one... and they are doubtless very content that this Eliminator is proving such an emotional drain on their resources!

Alex: "I'm still confused as why Tom Moores wasn't allowed to play. he's already played a couple of matches so why couldn't he stay in the side? makes no sense" To be fair to the regs, there is a need to be tight about such things, given the nonsensical tournament-hopping that has been taking place on the T20 franchise circuit of late. That said, this seems a rare moment of inflexibility. Especially when you consider Adam Zampa is flying 10,000 miles for 20 balls tomorrow!