Kieron Pollard produced a sensational display to inspire Southern Brave to a thrilling two-wicket win over Trent Rockets at Utilita Bowl and move his side level on points with Oval Invincibles at the top of The Hundred table.
Pollard had struggled his way to six from 14 balls in a contest which appeared to be slipping away from the hosts before he dispatched Rashid Khan for five consecutive sixes in one set.
The former West Indies captain was run out after making 45 from 23 balls but Chris Jordan held his nerve, hitting the penultimate delivery of the match for four to see Brave home.
Brave had been cruising at 43-0 in pursuit of 127 but the innings stalled after Alex Davies nicked behind off Sam Cook for a sprightly 28 and Andre Fletcher was cleaned up by a Rashid googly.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Watch the dramatic final balls between Southern Brave and Trent Rockets
John Turner, who had to be removed from the attack in his previous match after bowling successive beamers, produced a brilliant spell of fast bowling, taking 3-24 including the prize scalp of James Vince for 28, before Pollard turned the match on its head.
Earlier, Tom Banton was fast out of the traps for the Rockets, dispatching Akeal Hosein for three fours and a six in the first 10 deliveries. Adam Lyth hit a brace of boundaries in Tymal Mills’ opening over but Banton (30 from 17) holed out to Pollard at long-on in Danny Briggs’ opening set and the Rockets stuttered.
Lyth (16) was caught in the deep off Hosein, Briggs had Alex Hales (15) stumped and Jofra Archer dismissed Joe Root (16) with a leg-cutter which took a thick outside edge and flew to Davies, who snaffled a screamer.
Mills’ third set proved expensive, leaking three boundaries as Rovman Powell (16) and Lewis Gregory (19) threatened to tee off, but Jordan dismissed the Windies T20 skipper before Archer, who finished with 2-18, accounted for Gregory with a well-executed slower ball.
The Rockets could only manage 10 runs from the final 10 deliveries to finish on 126-8, Jordan dismissing Rashid and Luke Wood for figures of 3-22 to cap a superb bowling performance from the hosts.
Player of the match- Kieron Pollard
“I had to make a play at some point. I was really slow to start but I didn’t think it was a pitch where you could just come in and hit the ball, so I had to really try and calculate and pick my bowler.
“I’ve played against Rash a lot and he’s got me out a lot of times so I had to see what was happening. But I knew the sort of line and length he was going to bowl. If he bowled full I was going to back my strength which is hitting straight and he bowled three fuller balls and it was right in my arc.
“I couldn’t stop at that point in time, I had to get maximum. Rash is a world-class bowler but this was just one of the days where I took victory.”
What’s next?
Sunday is another four-game day in The Hundred, starting with a London derby between Oval Invincibles and London Spirit at The Kia Oval as the women’s sides collide from 11am before the men lock horns from 2.30pm.
There is also action at Emirates Old Trafford as Manchester Originals meet Northern Superchargers, with the women’s fixture starting at 2.30pm and the men’s at 6pm.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
You can watch every game live this weekend from the EFL thanks to Sky Sports Plus!
Oval Invincibles Women vs London Spirit Women (10.30am on air, 11am start)
– Free stream on Sky Sports’ digital platforms; also on Sky Sports Cricket
Oval Invincibles Men vs London Spirit Men (2pm on air, 2.30pm start)
– Live on Sky Sports Cricket
Manchester Originals Women vs Northern Superchargers Women (2pm on air, 2.30pm start)
– Free stream on Sky Sports’ digital platforms; also on Sky Sports Mix
Manchester Originals Men vs Northern Superchargers Men (5.30pm on air, 6pm start)
– Live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event
Sky Sports+ has officially launched and will be integrated into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app, giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.
