Bowlers, Villani keep Rockets qualification hopes alive

Elyse Villani's energetic 50 years, following a restrained bowling show, helped Trent Rockets keep their capability trusts bursting at the seams with an eight-wicket pounding of Welsh Fire at Trent Bridge on Monday. Bryony Smith, Nat Sciver and Katherine Brunt all picked two wickets each to limit the guests to only 100, preceding Villani's unbeaten fifty in a 64-run stand with Mignon du Peez prearranged an agreeable triumph. Tammy Beaumont, subsequent to winning the throw and choosing for bat first, started off with four consecutive limits forthright however Smith hit with her most memorable wad of the game to early end the firecrackers. Sciver likewise struck two times in her initial five, eliminating the Australian sets of Rachael Haynes and Annabel Sutherland. Smith excusing Fran Wilson efficiently 14 balls later had left Fire reeling on 40/4 when Sarah Bryce (23 off 26) set up a concise partnership with top-scorer Nicola Carey (27 off 29) to forestall a drop. The 33-run stand was broken by the opener's run-out. It was Lauren Filer's two fours at the fag end that impelled Fire to the 100-run mark. Villani took as much time as is needed getting comfortable, yet in addition didn't relinquish gifts. She invited countryman Sutherland into the assault with a breaking maneuver into the stands and afterward took control in the wake of losing both Smith and Sciver one after another. Villani pursued Carey, picking three limits in about five balls on the way her 38-ball 50 years. Only preceding that, however, du Preez moved down the track multiple times against Alex Hartley to pick a six and a four and wrapped up the pursuit with consecutive limits off Sutherland, with 18 balls in excess. Fire, along these lines, stand disposed of while Rockets (+0.101) who completed hardly in front of Birmingham Phoenix (+0.008) on NRR will currently need to hold back to find their destiny after their game against London Spirit on Tuesday. Brief scores: Welsh Fire 100/8 in 100 balls (nicola Carey 27; Bryony Smith 2-14, Nat Sciver 2-22) lost to Trent Rockets 102/2 in 82 balls (Elyse Villani 55*, Mignon du Preez 32*; Lauren Filer 1-13) by 8 wickets