Sublime Root Leads Rockets Into Hundred Knockouts

The Hundred men's competition, Sophia Gardens

Welsh Fire 150-6 (100 balls): Eskinazi 53 (42); Cook 2-17

Trent Rockets 152-7 (99 balls): Root 64* (41); Green 2-34

Trent Rockets won by 3 wickets

Scorecard. Table

Joe Root's sublime 64 not retired led Trent Rockets to a tense three-wicket triumph complete Welsh Fire and confirmed their spot successful nan knockouts of The Hundred men's competition.

Chasing 151 astatine Cardiff, Rockets were cruising astatine 116-2 pinch 25 balls to go, but mislaid 5 wickets for 20 runs arsenic Fire's bowlers dragged themselves backmost into contention.

With nan visitors needing 18 from 10 balls, David Payne removed Marcus Stoinis and David Willey to make Fire nan favourites pinch 14 needed from five.

But Root held his nerve, whacking a six and a 4 to regain power and Sam Hain struck nan winning runs pinch a shot to spare.

Rockets' triumph besides confirmed nan apical 3 sides and eliminated nan rest, arsenic they joined Oval Invincibles and Northern Superchargers astatine nan apical of nan table.

Fire were near to rue a no-ball by Payne, arsenic he had Root caught astatine constituent from nan 4th shot of nan innings erstwhile he was yet to people but nan 3rd umpire confirmed that nan seamer had decisively overstepped.

The remainder of Root's 41-ball sound was chanceless, including 4 fours and 3 sixes arsenic he kept his composure among nan chaos pinch Tom Banton's 32 nan adjacent highest contribution.

Earlier, Fire's ain innings started curiously arsenic they trudged on astatine astir a tally a shot for nan first 60 deliveries, pinch Steve Smith and Jonny Bairstow some falling early for eight.

Opener Stephen Eskinazi recovered his knock, kicking connected to 53 from 42 balls including a six disconnected David Willey which cleared nan Sophia Gardens pavilion, arsenic he added 97 for nan 3rd wicket pinch Tom Abell.

But Fire mislaid momentum arsenic nan brace fell successful consecutive balls and they struggled to footwear connected without a group batter astatine nan extremity of nan innings.

The last standings of nan men's array are yet to beryllium decided, however, pinch nan array toppers going consecutive done to nan last connected 31 August.

Second and 3rd look each different successful nan Eliminator astatine The Oval connected 30 August, pinch nan victor progressing to nan final.

It is simply a decisive time for London Spirit successful nan women's title arsenic they look to boost their top-three hopes by beating Oval Invincibles astatine The Oval astatine 15:00 BST.

The men's crippled follows astatine 18:30 BST, Invincibles person already confirmed a spot successful nan knockouts while Spirit are already out.

You tin travel ball-by-ball commentary connected BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and nan BBC Sport website and app.