END OF OVER:
20 | 9 Runs 1 Wkt | LS-W: 127/7 (32 runs required, RR: 6.35)

  • Deepti Sharma30 (23b)
  • Sarah Glenn0 (0b)
  • Heather Graham3.5-0-23-0
  • Ashleigh Gardner3.5-0-23-3

Ashleigh Gardner, Match Hero: It was huge, it was probably the first game that we put all three facets of the game together. The openers did a fantastic job, getting us the start and probably the best we were with the ball as well...pretty perfect performance. Just taking the pace away, there was obviously a strong breeze out there as well, just making it hard for the batters, length was crucial...just trying to bowl into the wicket rather than fuller because that seems to be a little bit easier when it was half-volley, overall spin kind of worked today

Marvelous work by the batters as they posted a stiff total of 158, which proved daunting for Spirit. Despite their spirited efforts, it felt like they were always playing catch-up as the Rockets consistently pegged them back with wickets, preventing them from having any big manhattans. Earlier, Bryony Smith got off to a flier, racing to 34 before getting run out on the 46th ball, with Dean getting her fingertips on the ball when Scrivens smashed it back towards the bowler. Scrivens continued her pyrotechnics and was keen on sweeping the ball. Nat Sciver-Brunt upped the ante with a quickfire 21 off 12 and Heather Graham remained unbeaten with a 22-run blitzkrieg. Deepti Sharma took two wickets for 25 runs while Sarah Glenn picked up one wicket in her spell but Spirit couldn't make consistent inroads and the Rockets were aggressive from ball one.

In reply, Meg Lanning provided a brisk start before miscuing one at mid-on, falling for 23. Redmayne and Cordelia made brief appearances and then Heather Knight attempted to get them back in the game with a counter-attacking 29 off 20 balls. Gibson was trapped lbw for 13 and made a desperate review. Deepti came in with intent but struggled to clear the ropes, ending unbeaten on 30 as Spirit fell short of the huge total. Ashleigh Gardner exploited the conditions brilliantly, spinning a web around Spirit and picking up three crucial wickets in a match-turning spell. Alana King also took three wickets as batters tried to dominate her but ended up finding fielders. It was a much-needed win for the Rockets, who jump to fifth place, while Spirit remain in fifth position on the points table after this match

This is Rvel Zahid signing off. More Hundred action to follow, with the Men's game starting imminently

19.5
1
Graham to Sharma, 1 run, Flings it fuller and slants it across off, props forward to drive it down to long-off
19.4
W
Graham to Sharma, OUT, Low full-toss wide of off, slapped to Gardner at extra cover who pings a sharp throw at non-striker's end and the batter is way short of her crease, you can get run-out on a free-hit

E Gray run out 7 (10m 8b 0x4 0x6) SR: 87.50

19.4
2nb
Graham to Sharma, 2 no balls, Overpitched wide of off, tries to reach and flays her hands but the ball kept swirling away, got a bit off balance, keeper whipped off the bails in a jiffy, gloves were in front of the stumps when the ball was caught so it's a no-ball
19.3
4
Graham to Sharma, FOUR, Bit short on off with no real pace, dances down and rifles it over the umpire's head for a blistering boundary!
19.2
1
Graham to Gray, 1 run, Follows her as she wanders outside leg, connected to square of midwicket
19.1
1
Graham to Sharma, 1 run, Aiming for the yorker, close to the blockhole, leg-sidish, hoisted away between long-on and midwicket, not perfectly timed

Spirit 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st21MM LanningGP Redmayne
2nd0MM LanningCL Griffith
3rd13MM LanningHC Knight
4th29HC KnightDR Gibson
5th14HC KnightDB Sharma
6th29DB SharmaCE Dean
7th20DB SharmaE Gray
8th1DB SharmaS Glenn