Ahmed impresses as Rockets crush Originals

Trent Bridge, The Hundred Men’s Competition

Manchester Originals 98-8 (100 balls): Gregory 33* (21), Willey 3-11

Trent Rockets 101-3 (74 balls): Ahmed 45* (35), Moores 22* (13)

Seven wickets separated the Trent Rockets.

Trent Rockets defeated Manchester Originals at Trent Bridge to record a seven-wicket victory with Rehan Ahmed.

With 26 balls left, Ahmed and Rockets skipper David Willey ripped through the top order with a 2-11 inning and scored an unbeaten 45 to make their subpar target of 99 with the help of Ahmed’s 2-14 bowling effort.

On a slow, sluggish surface, Willey set up the opener, who was pinned for a duck from the fourth ball of the innings before Jos Buttler, who had previously led England in white ball, was caught behind for 19 and New Zealand international Rachin Ravindra was dismissed in the same manner on the first ball.

The destructive Heinrich Klaasen holed out for nine from 16 balls before Ahmed put an end to any hope of an Originals revival.

Only Lewis Gregory’s unbeaten 33 from 21 balls against the Originals, and the Rockets made the most of the chase for a welcome net run-rate boost that keeps the table Oval Invincibles in check.

One of the few instances in which the Originals were completely outplayed saw Root misjudge a scoop and get caught behind for four, Baton was lbw to Ravindra for 11 and Max Holden fell for a spectacular one-handed catch by Salt.

With only seven more innings to go, Ahmed received a reprieve when he was dismissed on 39 by a Noor Ahmad no-ball, but fittingly, the all-rounder struck the winning boundary with a 40-run partnership with Tom Moores, who scored 22 not out of 13.

Although Salt, Buttler, and Klaasen are among the most powerful top orders, Manchester Originals’ particular surface did not appeal to their trademark aggression or innovation.

Willey, who had the star of his day, deceived young McKinney by shooting the ball in at his pads before Buttler attempted a counter-attack with three fours off Lockie Ferguson, was the ideal candidate to take advantage of it.

After Buttler’s last ball of the powerplay, Willey skillfully delivered the same result to the left-handed Ravindra, but it was short-lived.

Within the first 30 balls, Willey had his 20-ball spell and was relentless with his accuracy: he hit a good line with 76% of his deliveries, while 33% were predicted to hit stumps and none were beyond the off stump.

Klaasen, one of the best spinners in the world, was doomed by the dot-ball pressure when he long-on beat Ahmed Ahmed to Sam Hain, who had been starving, and Salt picked out a deep square-leg strike to send the Originals reeling (51-6).

Despite the surface’s slow and turgid nature, Gregory somehow managed to save them by whacked four boundaries when the top six only had five.

On Wednesday, Welsh Fire will host Southern Brave, and London Spirit will host Northern Superchargers.

The games in Cardiff are at 11: 30 and 15: 00 BST, while the matches at Lord’s take place at 15: 00 and 18: 30.