Phoenix vs Rockets, 31st Match at Nottingham, Women's Hundred, Aug 27 2025 - Ball by Ball Commentary

That concludes all the action from the match today. Thank you for tuning in. Do join the men's game, which will start in around 40 minutes at the same ground. Goodbye!

Player of the Match, Nat Sciver-Brunt: "I would have liked to have been at the end, obviously; it would have made it a bit calmer for everybody. But what wasn't to be, I suppose; in the three games I have got runs, that sort of been the case. So something to maybe think about going into my innings in the future. I guess as a batting group, we've always said, if we can get ahead of the game, try and stay ahead of the game. So that was the sort of tempo that I wanted to go at. Obviously, getting out at that point, had we not been ahead of the game as we were, probably would have been even more stressful. So I guess there's good and bad to that, but we'll see. It's always nice to win at your home ground, in front of your home fans. We did that last year as well. But obviously the wicket is quite specific. It's quite slow. And we probably didn't adapt to that as quickly as we wanted to at the start of the tournament. [Playing on a slow pitch] I suppose waiting for the ball, probably playing more off the back foot, especially to the spin. I suppose you still get value for your shots. I guess, not to be too disheartened and not to go into our shell too much either. I guess, still trying to take on the positive options, as we all have them. We all have our strengths. So not to avoid those."

5:40 pm The Midland derby belongs to the Trent Rockets after a nerve-wracking finish! The Phoenix got off to a brilliant start with the ball, as Em Arlott dislodged the bails of Bryony Smith with a perfect yorker. However, their bowling was a bit wayward in the Powerplay, with too many no-balls easing the pressure. Nat Sciver-Brunt capitalised, running riot against the bowlers and scoring 52 runs off just 29 balls to lead her team's chase. She got a life when Em Arlott misjudged the trajectory of a catch, but ironically, she lost her wicket on the very next delivery. After NSB's dismissal, the game took a drastic turn as runs dried up and the Rockets lost a cluster of wickets. However, the lower order held their nerve, getting their team over the line with some clever singles and doubles. Brett was the star bowler for the Phoenix with three wickets, while Schutt got two. The spinners for both teams were crucial, squeezing the runs and picking up key wickets during the middle overs. Despite the batting collapse, it was the Rockets who got the last smile.

Trent Rockets won by 3 wickets

Em Arlott to bowl the last set, 2 runs needed.

Trent Rockets versus Birmingham Pheonix women's attendance - 7,182

Schutt to bowl the penultimate set, 5 runs needed.

Will: "From a forgone conclusion to a rather tense finish coming up. Can the Rockets find a way home, or will the Phoenix rise?"

Baker to bowl out

Em Arlott returns to the attack