Runs and wickets for Gardner yet victory evades Rockets in The Hundred

Callan Morse Published July 30, 2024 at 2.35pm (AWST)

Sport

A solid contribution from Ash Gardner wasn't enough to see the Trent Rockets to victory in England's The Hundred competition overnight. (Image: Nathan Stirk/ECB via Getty Images)

Contributions with both bat and ball from allrounder Ash Gardner wasn't enough to see the Trent Rockets to victory in England's The Hundred competition overnight.

The Rockets fell a solitary run short in pursuit of the Manchester Originals' 6-137, with Gardner - batting at her regular number five position - contributing 36 (23) in the unsuccessful chase.

Arriving at the crease in the eighth over of the reply with the Rockets poised at 3-47, Gardner partnered with match high scorer Nat Sciver-Brunt in the highest partnership of the match, an 86-run fourth wicket stand.

The pair looked comfortable against an Originals attack boasting the likes of international quicks Kim Garth and Lauren Filer as well as left arm orthodox spinner Sophie Ecclestone, with both Gardner and Sciver-Brunt finding the boundary on both sides of the ground throughout their innings with ease.

Gardner struck four boundaries and a huge six over mid wicket in her 23-ball innings, often electing to take the arial route to access the Old Trafford fence with Sciver-Brunt not to be outdone, the England international finding the boundary on eight occasions.

Gardner was the Rockets' most economical bowler, ending with figures of 1-17 from her 20 balls. (Image: Nathan Stirk/ECB via Getty Images)

After navigating the majority of the chase successfully, the pair guided The Rockets to within 17 with six balls remaining and after three consecutive boundaries from Gardner, victory looked within sight.

However Gardner was dismissed on the third last ball of the chase, hauling out to the safe hands of Beth Mooney at long on from the bowling of Kathryn Bryce, with the Rockets managing just three of the required five off the final two balls to finish agonisingly short on 4-136.

Earlier in the match Gardner was the pick of the Rockets' attack, taking 1-17 from her 20 balls, 12 of them dots.

The loss market the Rockets' first defeat of the tournament after they defeated the Northern Superchargers by 20 runs three days earlier, a match which saw Gardner score 10 (9) whilst picking up 1-18 from three overs.

Gardner and the Trent Rockets will next play the Birmingham Phoenix at their home ground, Nottingham's Trent Bridge Thursday morning Australian time.