Twitter Reactions: Wahab Riaz, Samit Patel help Trent Rockets regain top spot

Trent Rockets were pushed down to the third spot after their six-wicket loss at the hands of the Birmingham Phoenix. However, the team, led by Lewis Gregory, regained their top spot. On Friday, August 6, the Rockets beat Welsh Fire by six wickets with 10 balls to spare at the Sophia Gardens.

Phillips and Wahab shine

After being put in to bat first, the Fire couldn’t quite get going and managed only 139 for the loss of eight wickets. Tom Banton, Ian Cockbain, and Ben Duckett got out cheaply, leaving the Fire at 53 for three. However, New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips and Lues do Plooy helped them make a comeback.

The duo put on a stand of 72 runs for the fourth wicket off 46 balls. Phillips went on to score 50 off 35 with four fours and two sixes. Plooy’s 22-ball 30 also helped the Fire’s cause. Pakistan speedster Wahab Riaz was excellent at the death as the left-arm pacer picked up four wickets.

Patel holds his nerve

The Rockets lost D’Arcy Short early in the run-chase and found themselves on a backfoot. However, Alex Hales’ 26 and Dawid Malan’s 20 brought them back into the contest. Both the batters perished to Afghanistan’s leg-spinner Qais Ahmad. The game was, well and truly, in the balance back then.

After Steven Mullaney got out, Samit Patel and skipper Gregory’s unbeaten 69-run stand took the Rockets home. Gregory scored a 17-ball 22, but it was Patel, who played a blinder. The latter smashed 46 off 20 with one four and five sixes and played at a stupendous strike rate of 230.

We just spoke about just keep going: Samit Patel

For his masterful knock under pressure, Patel got the Player of the Match award. Following his match-winning knock, Patel talked about how they planned the run-chase amidst the fall of wickets.

“We restricted them really well and then the batters got us off to a good start. (At the halfway mark) We just spoke about just keep going and play positive cricket, see where we get. We targeted the 10 balls to be bowled from the shorter side of the boundary and tried to finish the game as early as possible. It is good to get some momentum and keep moving forward,” Patel said.

Here’s how the netizens reacted to Trent Rockets’ win:

20 Balls.
30 Runs.
4 Wickets.
What a debut in #TheHundred for Wahab Riaz 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/acMKDGLVom

— Saleh Hayat 💔💔 (@painandsmile334) August 7, 2021

Wahab Riaz made his #TheHundred debut tonight, and set up a convincing win for Trent Rockets over Welsh Fire!

He bowled 20 balls, gave away 30 runs and picked up 4 wickets, including his former Peshawar Zalmi team-mate Tom Banton!#WahabRaiz pic.twitter.com/49S3DmBx8R

— Zakir Hussain (@iamzakirHasain) August 7, 2021

Welsh Fire (Men) : 139/8 (100 balls)
Trent Rockets (Men) : 140/4 (90 balls)
Rockets won by 6 wickets
Player of the match : Samith Patel (Rockets)#TheHundred 🏏 pic.twitter.com/Y5pDtp2N5S

— Ishara Isuru 🏏⚽️🏉 (@Ishisuru1) August 7, 2021

@Samitpatel21 🏅 46 runs. 20 balls. 1 four. 5 sixes. @CazooUK | #TheHundred pic.twitter.com/XmervehyRH

— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 6, 2021

@Samitpatel21 on fire this evening 🔥….. Well played..!! #TheHundred

— Bhav Modha (@bhavmodha) August 6, 2021

What a great win by Trent Rockets, and particularly Samit Patel. He just smashed it all over the park. #TheHundred

— James the Great . (@Lardyda44) August 6, 2021

36-year-old Samit Patel smoked his way to an unbeaten 46* off 20 balls.

No panic at all. Clinical!#TheHundred

— Sayantan Bhattacharjee (@Sayantan90s) August 6, 2021

Samit Patel what a legend. 👏 #TrentRockets win. #TheHundred

— सुयश स्वरूप சுயஷ் ஸ்வரூப் 🏏🇮🇳🕉️卐🚩📽️ (@sscomp32) August 6, 2021

Samit Patel – what a knock! 46 Off 20👏🏼#TheHundred

— Chris Owens (@chrisowens100) August 6, 2021

Rockets made that look easy thanks to Patel. Smashed the Fire all over the park. #TheHundred

— Brian Harris (@harrisimo) August 6, 2021