Twitter Reactions: Rachel Priest guides Trent Rockets to maiden win in the Hundred

After two defeats, the Trent Rockets have opened their account in the Women’s Hundred. On Thursday, July 29, the team, led by Natalie Sciver, beat the London Spirit by 18 runs at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. Former New Zealand cricketer Rachel Priest played a crucial role as she became the Player of the Match for scoring a 42-ball 76 with the help of 10 fours and four sixes.

Priest takes charge

After electing to bat first, the Rockets weren’t in any mood to die wondering. Priest and Sammy-Jo Johnson stitched together a 101-run stand for the opening wicket off only 67 balls. Priest got her half-century off 29 balls and was the first wicket to fall, being dismissed by Danielle Gibson. Johnson was a tad circumspect as her 25 came at under a run-ball ball before Deepti Sharma got rid of her.

Sciver also showed the damage she can do in the death overs. The captain notched 32 off 16 with three fours and two sixes and propelled the Rockets to a formidable score of 151 for four. For the Spirit, fast bowler Freya Davies was the standout performer as she picked up Sciver’s wicket and gave away only 19 runs with 10 dots. Right-arm spin bowler Charlotte Dean also conceded runs at under a run-a-ball.

Lucy Higham carries Rockets with the ball

In the Spirit’s run-chase, the returning Tammy Beaumont looked promising with three fours before Kathryn Bryce pinned her. Naomi Dattani tried to take on Katherine Brunt and perished. However, Deandra Dottin and skipper Heather Knight injected some momentum with a partnership of 45 runs off 29 balls. But just when Dottin was looking dangerous on 29 runs off 19 balls, she got run out.

Deepti tried to play the sweep and she became Lucy Higham’s maiden wicket in the Hundred. Chloe Tryon couldn’t survive the heat either, top-edging one off Heather Graham. But once Higham delivered the body blow, getting rid of Knight for 31, the Rockets didn’t look back. Dean and Amara Carr scored 16 and 18 respectively in the death overs, but the Spirit could only go up to 133 for seven.

 Here’s how the netizens reacted to Trent Rockets’ victory at the Lord’s:

Rachel Priest 🔥 @thehundred

— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) July 29, 2021

Rachel Priest! Way to find some form!

This has been an interesting partnership so far. #TheHundred

— Ananya Upendran (@a_upendran11) July 29, 2021

The collective 'Wooooooah'/ 'Oooooh' of the crowd when Rachel Priest and Natalie Sciver have crunched the ball is the best thing i've heard today! #TheHundred

— Ananya Upendran (@a_upendran11) July 29, 2021

Could we see the first hundred of #theHundred at Lord's this afternoon? Rachel Priest has 71 from 36 balls as London Spirit take their fielding timeout. Still 40 balls of the Trent Rockets' innings to go…

— Alan Gardner (@alanroderick) July 29, 2021

Just a little bit special from Rachel Priest. Reaches her half-century by boshing her third maximum, the longest of the afternoon, straight over cow corner. Trent Rockets firing at Lord's #TheHundred

— Kalika (@Journo_K) July 29, 2021

Will Rachel Priest score a century at @HomeOfCricket ? #TheHundred

— Gomesh Shanmugavelayutham (@theumpires_call) July 29, 2021

How good has this been from Rachel Priest?!?! Proper biffing. 🙌 #TheHundred

— Scott Taylor (@ScottTaylorUK) July 29, 2021

Rachel Priest has done what she meant to do. In all likelihood, her Spirit's counterpart Deandra Dottin could put up a show as well. This is going to be a fun night! #TheHundred

— Gomesh Shanmugavelayutham (@theumpires_call) July 29, 2021