Trent Rockets secured their first Women's Hundred title with a 32-run victory over Sunrisers at Lord's on Saturday. The final, played in front of a capacity crowd, saw the Rockets post a formidable total of 172 for 5, anchored by an unbeaten 71 from Nat Sciver-Brunt, before restricting Sunrisers to 140 for 8.
Sciver-Brunt's Masterclass Sets Up Victory
Sciver-Brunt's innings, which came off just 45 balls, included nine fours and two sixes, and was the cornerstone of the Rockets' total. She was well supported by captain Meg Lanning, who contributed a brisk 38 off 27 deliveries. The pair added 89 runs for the third wicket after early wickets had slowed the Rockets' progress.
Sunrisers' bowlers, led by Hannah Baker with 2 for 28, had initially kept the scoring in check, but Sciver-Brunt's acceleration in the final 20 balls of the innings proved decisive. The Rockets scored 58 runs in the last 20 deliveries, with Sciver-Brunt taking 24 of those.
Sunrisers' Chase Falters Despite Brunt's Heroics
In reply, Sunrisers got off to a steady start, with openers Grace Scrivens and Bryony Smith putting on 45 for the first wicket. However, the introduction of spin from the Rockets' bowlers turned the tide. Kirstie Gordon, the tournament's leading wicket-taker, dismissed both openers in quick succession, and the Sunrisers never recovered.
An inspired fightback from Alice Capsey, who scored 44 off 29 balls, gave Sunrisers hope, but when she was dismissed by Alana King in the 18th over, the chase was effectively over. The Rockets' fielding was sharp throughout, with two run-outs and a stunning catch on the boundary from Sciver-Brunt to remove Capsey.
Historic Moment for Rockets and Women's Cricket
The victory marks a historic moment for the Rockets, who had reached the final for the first time. Lanning, the former Australia captain, praised her team's composure under pressure. "I'm incredibly proud of the group. We stayed calm when it mattered and executed our plans perfectly," she said after the match.
The final also set a new attendance record for a Women's Hundred match, with 18,000 spectators packing Lord's. The success of the tournament, now in its fifth year, has been credited with increasing the profile of women's cricket in England.
For Sunrisers, it was a second consecutive final defeat, having lost to London Spirit in 2025. Their captain, Heather Knight, acknowledged the disappointment but praised her team's resilience. "We fought hard all season, and to come up short is tough, but we'll learn from this and come back stronger," she said.
