The Hundred Women’s Competition, Trent Bridge

Trent Rockets 142-7 (100 balls): Gardner 34 (22); Kapp 3-12

London Spirit 146-5 (97 balls): De Klerk 41* (22); outfielder 2-24

London Spirit won by five wickets

Scorekeeper. Table

All-rounder Nadine de Klerk held her nerve to lead London Spirit to a tense five-wicket victory over Trent Rockets with three balls to spare.

Chasing 143 at Trent Bridge, Spirit were in trouble at 67-4 after losing four wickets in 12 runs and were in danger of throwing away their positive start with opener Grace Harris’ knock of 37 off 20 balls.

But De Klerk and Marie Kelly combined for a counter-attacking 63 off 37 balls to propel Spirit to their first win of the season.

With power hitter Deandra Dottin waiting in the dugout, there was some concern about Kelly’s slow start as she stuttered to 12 off 13 balls, but kicked impressively to score 39 off 26 deliveries.

Following her departure with still 13 to go, the Rockets bowlers struggled to take the game deep but De Klerk, who has made a name for herself as a finisher in recent years, hit two sixes off the last four balls in a nerveless knock of 41 not out off 22 balls.

Previously, South African Marizanne Kapp, De Klerk’s teammate, had set the tone with the ball for the Spirit with a good 3-12.

Kapp bowled the first ball to Beth Mooney before removing Sophia Dunkley and Sophie Luff, but Ash Gardner’s 34 and a dynamic 19-ball 31 from Bess Heath took the Rockets’ recovery to 142-7.

Gardner was caught on the boundary by England’s Charlie Dean, who also impressed with 2-18, allowing Spirit to keep the race pace in check as Heath struggled for support from the lower order.

Both teams have one win out of two so far, but the Rockets feel more comfortable in third place in the table with a superior net run rate.

The previous match between Manchester Super Giants and Birmingham Phoenix was abandoned without a ball being thrown at Old Trafford.