After electing to bat first, the Rockets got off to a flyer thanks to Aneurin Donald who came into the side for his first match of the tournament. From No 3, he smashed three sixes in a 19-ball knock of 40, forcing an in-form Duckett to play second fiddle.
Following Donald’s departure, Duckett took over. He reached a third half-century of the campaign from 35 balls, overtaking Phil Salt to become The Hundred men’s competition’s leading run-scorer in the process.
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He shared a 50-run stand with Tim David from just 35 balls before falling for 64 from 47, bowled by Nathan Ellis after once again failing to connect with a scoop shot – the second innings in succession in which he had been dismissed attempting the stroke.
David had laboured to 17 from 20 balls, but finished the innings positively, clearing the ropes off Matt Potts as the Rockets ended on 146-4.
Mitchell Marsh looked in imperious form as SunRisers began their chase. He was joined by Zak Crawley and together the long-levered right-handers took the SunRisers to 32-1 at the end of the powerplay.
Crawley accelerated against the spin of Calvin Harrison and Mitchell Santner, but was undone by the guile of the Kiwi, bowled for 26.
Harry Brook arrived at the crease in typically aggressive fashion, racing to 24 from 14 balls before Sam Billings spilled a chance behind the stumps. Brook and Marsh both slowed after their rapid starts, reducing the target to 30 from the final 16 balls, before Brook was brilliantly caught by Duckett at extra cover off Amir for 46.
Amir then had Marsh caught behind by Billings for 41 to leave SunRisers needing 25 from the final 10 balls. Matt Henry conceded just nine from the penultimate set of five, leaving Lewis Gregory to successfully defend 16 from the last five deliveries.
‘I just trusted my game’
Ben Duckett, the Meerkat Match Hero, on Sky Sports Cricket:
“Aneurin played extremely well in the powerplay, took a lot of pressure off me and got us off to a great start. Delighted with that win, it was a fantastic team effort.
“It was sweeping today. I was struggling to play straight and knew there would be spin in the middle. I was trying to trust my game that I would be able to catch up. On another day, that doesn’t happen, but thankfully today it did.”
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