Captain Vince secures Southern Brave final spot after Rockets bowled out for 96

James Vince’s 45 not out helped the Southern Brave book their place in the Hundred final at Lord’s tomorrow after the Trent Rockets had earlier been bowled out for a below-par 96.

With Alex Hales and Dawid Malan opening for the Trent Rockets, many would’ve expected the former to be the aggressor but it was Malan who raced to 14 off 7 early on.

The England international would depart soon after when edging behind off the bowling of George Garton to bring D’Arcy Short to the crease.

Garton would claim the wicket of Hales in his next spell, feathering the ball through to Quinton de Kock in similar fashion to Malan. Captain Steven Mullaney was next to depart when bowled by Craig Overton for 5, the Rockets desperately in need of a partnership.

Short proved Garton’s next victim when lofting a simple chance to Tymal Mills at cover. The Sussex bowler claimed 3 for 15 from his spell to leave the Rockets 31 for 4.

The quality of the Brave’s pace attack gave no respite to Samit Patel and Lewis Gregory as Tymal Mills and Chris Jordan continued to build pressure.

Patel took to the bowling of Jake Lintott and lifted the Rockets to 57 runs at the halfway stage as James Vince decided to bring Garton back for his last spell.

The Rockets would see off Garton but Mills would strike soon after as Gregory presented a simple chance to Paul Stirling and departed for 11.

Back-to-back sixes from Tom Moores boosted the Rockets score but any momentum was swiftly reversed when Lintott pulled off a brilliant diving catch to dismiss Patel off Overton.

The fast bowler ensured he would not be outdone when catching Moores on the boundary, throwing the ball back and hopping back from over the boundary edge to complete the catch.

Rashid Khan skied a 90 miles-per-hour delivery soon after and was caught out to leave the Rockets flailing at 88 for 8 off 84 balls.

Matt Carter and Marchant De Lange both departed edging behind off Jordan and Mills to complete the innings, the Rockets all out for just 96.

Paul Stirling scooped Matt Carter’s first delivery of the innings for four to show his intent, a fast start for the Southern Brave almost certain to ensure progression to the final.

The Irishman quickly raced to 16 from eight but lost his opening partner de Kock when he skied a De Lange ball into the grateful hands of Sam Cook.

Skipper James Vince came in at three and matched the aggression displayed by Sterling, dismantling Rashid Khan’s first five balls for 14.

The Brave had raced to 50 by the time 25 balls arrived and required just 47 from their remaining 75 deliveries.

Mistakes in the field weren’t helping the Rockets’ cause as Vince and Stirling refused to take their foot off the gas.

De Lange would just about hang on to a catch that dismissed Stirling for 31 off Carter, the Irishman having reduced the required runs to 28 from 60 balls.

Vince slog-sweeped Rashid Khan for another six to bring the total needed to 20 as the Southern Brave began to coast towards progression to the final.

Alex Davies departed caught behind after review, De Lange picking up his 12th wicket of the Hundred but only 14 were now required from 48 balls and the Rockets’ hopes had long dwindled.

Ross Whiteley joined Vince to see the side home, the captain finishing the job by cutting Cook to the boundary for four.

The job had been completed inside 68 balls with the Brave now booking their place to play Moeen Ali’s Birmingham Phoenix at Lord’s tomorrow.

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