Rockets Continue Dominant Run in Men's Hundred 2026

Trent Rockets continued their red-hot run in the Men's Hundred 2026 with their fifth successive win of the season, clinically brushing aside Birmingham Phoenix at Trent Bridge on Wednesday (July 5). Having suffered their only defeat in the season thus far to the same opposition in their tournament opener, the Rockets proved too hot to handle this time for Phoenix, who crashed to their fourth consecutive defeat.

Gregory's Death Overs Masterclass

The win was set up by a death overs masterclass from former skipper Lewis Gregory, and a breezy unbeaten 31 from current skipper Sam Billings that ensured there was no room for a hiccup in a chase of 112. The Rockets elected to field first on a dry surface where variations in pace proved effective, and the decision was vindicated despite Mohammad Amir walking off the field clutching his hamstring four deliveries into the match.

Amir did not take further part in the contest, but he made an impact just prior to the injury as he removed the dangerous Mitch Owen. Phoenix were stalled early on, mustering just three runs across the first 14 balls.

Phoenix Struggle Against Relentless Bowling

Joe Clarke, who led a lone vigil with the bat, switched gears and reeled off back-to-back sixes against Matt Henry but the visitors could only manage 25 in the Powerplay. The Phoenix batters never came to terms with the surface and the Rockets' relentless bowling.

Will Smeed took nine deliveries to open his account before perishing for a painstaking 16-ball 6, as Phoenix managed just 42 at the halfway mark. Rehan Ahmed departed cheaply too but as the set batter, Clarke found the boundary from time to time. He raised his half-century with a booming 92-metre six, denting an otherwise miserly spell from leggie Calvin Harrison.

Laurie Evans got a start but couldn't convert it, before Gregory took charge at the death with masterful use of his cutters. Bowling 10 of the last 15 balls of the innings, he accounted for Donovan Ferreira before ending Clarke's valiant innings on 62 as Phoenix finished on 111/6.

Rockets Chase Down Target with Ease

In response, the Rockets began steadily if not in flamboyant fashion, scoring 29 runs in the Powerplay. Neither Finn Allen nor Ben Duckett raced off the traps, with Allen in particular enduring an uncharacteristically rusty stay in the middle.

Usman Tariq brought a 41-run opening stand to a close with the wicket of Duckett, before plucking a stunning one-handed return catch off Allen which the replays then confirmed he had grounded. Aneurin Donald, who starred with a 19-ball 40 against Sunrisers Leeds over the weekend, pumped momentum into the innings as he tore into Owen for two sixes and a four to bring the equation down to less than a run-a-ball.

Donald departed for 17 off 6, but Billings then took charge, reverse-sweeping Rehan before carting Saqib Mahmood for a couple of maximums. Allen, who continued to struggle at his end, eventually fell to Tariq as he chipped one to silly mid-on but Billings finished the contest with a massive six off Rehan as the Rockets got home with 17 deliveries to spare.

Brief Scores

Birmingham Phoenix 111/6 in 100 balls (Joe Clarke 62; Lewis Gregory 2-20, Calvin Harrison 1-17)

Trent Rockets 116/3 in 83 balls (Sam Billings 31*, Finn Allen 28, Aneurin Donald 17; Usman Tariq 2-15, Ben Dwarshuis 1-11)

Result: Trent Rockets won by 7 wickets