Finn Allen scored an unbeaten 72 off 35 balls as Trent Rockets climbed to the top of the Men's Hundred table with a six-wicket victory over Manchester Super Giants at Old Trafford.
Chasing 138, the New Zealand opener spearheaded the innings with a knock of controlled aggression, taking Rockets home with 13 balls to spare despite early setbacks.
Billings fell to Atkinson after making a useful contribution, while Baker returned to dismiss Tim David, but Allen remained unmoved.
Earlier, Manchester Super Giants made a solid start after being asked to bat, reaching 38 without loss in the Powerplay before Craig Overton turned the innings around with a superb spell.
The total, though, proved well below par once Allen settled in, as Rockets produced a clinical chase to strengthen their position at the top of the standings.
Finn Allen scored an unbeaten 72 off 35 balls as Trent Rockets climbed to the top of the Men's Hundred table with a six-wicket victory over Manchester Super Giants at Old Trafford. Chasing 138, the New Zealand opener spearheaded the innings with a knock of controlled aggression, taking Rockets home with 13 balls to spare despite early setbacks.
The chase got off to a poor start when Ben Duckett was bowled attempting a scoop off Gus Atkinson in the opening set, and Sonny Baker soon accounted for Tom Banton to leave Rockets under pressure. Allen, however, found an able ally in Sam Billings as the pair quickly wrested back control with a brisk 50-run stand that came off just 25 balls.
Allen survived on 32 when Liam Dawson couldn't hold onto a difficult return chance and made the reprieve count, racing to a 23-ball half-century. Billings fell to Atkinson after making a useful contribution, while Baker returned to dismiss Tim David, but Allen remained unmoved. Mitchell Santner chipped in with an unbeaten 24 off 17 as the pair calmly completed the chase.
Earlier, Manchester Super Giants made a solid start after being asked to bat, reaching 38 without loss in the Powerplay before Craig Overton turned the innings around with a superb spell. He removed Tim Seifert and Aiden Markram in quick succession before dismissing Heinrich Klaasen for a two-ball duck, reducing the hosts to 38 for 3.
Jos Buttler and Leus du Plooy rebuilt steadily but found scoring difficult against Santner's left-arm spin and Lewis Gregory's variations on a surface that offered little pace. Du Plooy finally broke the shackles with successive sixes late in the innings before departing, while Buttler accelerated in the closing stages, striking two fours and a six in Gregory's final set to finish unbeaten on 55 and lift Super Giants to 137 for 3. Buttler is now just 24 runs away from surpassing Kieron Pollard for most runs in T20 cricket.
The total, though, proved well below par once Allen settled in, as Rockets produced a clinical chase to strengthen their position at the top of the standings.
