The Hundred 2024: Irrepressible Rashid Khan breaks London Spirit

Alex Hales hits 68 before the Afghanistan leg-spinner takes four wickets and delivers 10 dots in 20 balls

ECB Media | 07/08/2024 at 21:28

Trent Bridge: Trent Rockets 166-4, London Spirit 144 - Trent Rockets won by 22 runs

Alex Hales wound back the clock to fire Trent Rockets back into the top three of The Hundred men's competition with a 22-run win over London Spirit at Trent Bridge.

The 35-year-old World Cup winner cleared the ropes five times in a typically powerful 68, from 42 balls, before Meerkat Match Hero Rashid Khan claimed three wickets in his first six balls to effectively ice the game, save for a couple of massive blows from Andre Russell.

Rockets, who had lost their previous two games, posted 166 for 4 with Tom Banton and Joe Root providing hard-hitting support of their own for Hales.

The opener had not passed 38 in his previous 11 innings in the competition but found his groove as Rockets added 93 from the second 50 balls of their innings – the only moment of concern coming when Hales was temporarily felled by a Nathan Ellis full toss.

Banton thrashed 36 from 25 balls to set a platform while Root's enduring know-how ensured a strong finish to the innings with 32 from 23 balls.

Afghanistan leg-spinner Khan then made an immediate impact with the ball on his way to figures of 4 for 24.

Spirit skipper Dan Lawrence's attempt to attack Khan backfired, picking out Rovman Powell on the rope from his second ball before Shimron Hetmeyer was judged lbw on review from the next.

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^{Alex Hales set Trent Rockets on their way (ECB via Getty Images)}

Keaton Jennings hit 31 from 18 only to direct his normally reliable reverse sweep into the gloves of Banton as Khan again showcased the match-defining qualities that has made him a star in white-ball competitions across the world.

Russell responded by dispatching Khan out of Trent Bridge with a mighty six that got the 10,564 fans off their feet. The Windies all-rounder crunched another massive blow into the stands while John Turner had to be removed from the attack as a second beamer hit Russell.

But just as the hosts had started to feel the pressure, Luke Wood expertly produced a slower ball that kept low and found Russell's off stump.

Matt Critchley offered some late hitting, with 37 from 30 balls, but Sam Cook closed him out and there was too much left to do as defeat left Spirit with just one win from their five games and their hopes of reaching the knockout stage all but over.