Ahmed impresses as Rockets crush Originals
- BBC News
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What a catch! - Root dismisses Hurst
The Hundred mens competition, Trent Bridge
Manchester Originals 98-8 (100 balls): Gregory 33* (21); Willey 3-11
Trent Rockets 101-3 (74 balls): Ahmed 45* (35), Moores 22* (13)
Trent Rockets won by seven wickets
Rehan Ahmed starred with bat and ball as Trent Rockets sealed a comprehensive seven-wicket win over Manchester Originals at Trent Bridge.
Ahmed took 2-14 in a fine bowling effort alongside Rockets skipper David Willey, who ripped through the top order with 3-11, before scoring an unbeaten 45 as the home side reached their subpar target of 99 with 26 balls to spare.
The Originals trudged to 98-8 on a slow and sluggish surface, set up by Willey who pinned opener Ben McKinney lbw for a duck from the fourth ball of the innings, before having former England white-ball captain Jos Buttler caught behind for 19 and New Zealand international Rachin Ravindra was dismissed the same way first ball.
Ahmed then ended any hopes of an Originals recovery as the destructive Heinrich Klaasen holed out for nine from 16 balls and opener Phil Salt fell for 19.
Only Lewis Gregory offered any resistance for the Originals with his unbeaten 33 from 21 balls and despite losing openers Joe Root and Tom Banton early, the Rockets made light work of the chase for a welcome net run-rate boost which keeps the pressure on top of the table Oval Invincibles.
Root misjudged a scoop and was caught behind for four, Baton was lbw to Ravindra for 11 and Max Holden fell to a spectacular one-handed catch by Salt, one of very few moments for the Originals to celebrate as they were completely outplayed.
Ahmed was given a reprieve when he was dismissed on 39 by a Noor Ahmad no-ball with only seven runs left to win, but fittingly the all-rounder struck the winning boundary after a fifth-wicket stand of 40 with Tom Moores, who made 22 not out from 13.
Rockets remain second in the table, equal on points with Brave but behind on net run-rate, while Originals drop to sixth.
Manchester Originals possess one of the most powerful top orders with Salt, Buttler and Klaasen in particular but this was not a surface that suited their usual aggression or innovation.
Willey was the perfect candidate to exploit it with the swing for which he is renowned, deceiving young McKinney by firing the ball in at his pads before Buttler attempted a counter-attack with three fours off Lockie Ferguson.
It was short-lived, as Buttler nicked a good-length delivery behind from the last ball of the powerplay before Willey efficiently produced the same result to the left-handed Ravindra.
Willey bowled his 20-ball spell within the first 30 balls and was relentless with his accuracy: he hit a good line with 76% of his deliveries, while 33% were predicted to be going on to hit the stumps and none were wide of the off stump.
Klaasen, one of the worlds best players of spin, was undone by the dot-ball pressure as he clubbed the ever-impressive Ahmed to Sam Hain at long-on and Salt, who had been starved of the strike, picked out deep square-leg to leave the Originals reeling at 51-6.
They were rescued somewhat by Gregory, who whacked four boundaries when the top six managed just five between them, but it was never enough to challenge the Rockets despite the slow and turgid nature of the surface.
Root and Banton tried to be proactive early but were undone by the lack of pace on the ball but Ahmed showed remarkable confidence in striking down the ground and through the covers, sealing a fourth win in five games for the Rockets, who maintain their push for a top-three place.
Weve got two double-headers for you to enjoy on Wednesday, with Welsh Fire hosting Southern Brave and London Spirit hosting Northern Superchargers.
The games in Cardiff are at 11:30 and 15:00 BST, while the matches at Lords take place at 15:00 and 18:30.
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