Trent Rockets comfortably beat Welsh Fire by 23 runs to keep their faint qualification hopes alive in The Hundred women’s competition at Sophia Gardens.
Rockets successfully defended a competitive 145-6, but they will be eliminated if Manchester Originals beat Birmingham Phoenix in the later game at 14:30 BST.
Fire, who were already knocked out, fell short on 122-9 as they struggled for partnerships throughout the innings.
They were bamboozled by Rockets’ world-class spinners, Australians Alana King and Ash Gardner, who took five wickets between them.
Leg-spinner King extracted plenty of turn and grip from the Cardiff surface with 3-17 while Gardner’s relentless accuracy saw her take the key wickets of Sophia Dunkley for 26 and Hayley Matthews for 18.
Gardner also set up Rockets’ competitive total in a partnership of 67 with England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt during the middle phase of the innings, after Bryony Smith’s dynamic 38 from 27 balls at the top of the order gave them a useful platform.
Rockets were set for a formidable total at 120-2 with 20 balls remaining but Fire dragged back some control as both set batters fell in the space of six balls, with Sciver-Brunt making 38 and Gardner 36.
Freya Davies took two wickets in two balls at the close as she finished with 3-26, but despite their strong fightback, it proved far too much for a batting line-up low in confidence after a miserable campaign.
Fire face unbeaten Southern Brave, who are already confirmed of a final spot, in their final game on Thursday while Rockets conclude their tournament against Birmingham Phoenix on Wednesday.
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