England batter Jamie Smith’s half-century set up a comfortable 21-run win for London Spirit at Lord’s, inflicting a first defeat on Trent Rockets in The Hundred.
Smith was promoted to open, a role he fulfils for England’s white-ball sides, and struck 52 from 34 balls as Spirit posted a challenging 162-5.
The visitors made a bright start in reply as Tom Banton and Joe Root added 73 for the first wicket, but they fell away after the former’s departure and crawled to 141-6.
Rockets were ultimately punished for a sloppy fielding effort. Smith was put down on 23 and 26, while Kane Williamson was also dropped twice in making 45 as the pair added 73 for the second wicket.
Smith clubbed four sixes and two fours while Williamson showed his sublime touch and class in a 32-ball knock that followed Australian David Warner’s departure for six.
Warner’s compatriot Ashton Turner provided a late cameo of 30 from16 balls, while Ollie Pope made 17 from nine, to complete a much-improved batting effort after Spirit’s previous performance on home turf saw them bowled out for just 80.
Banton led the charge in his opening stand with Root but the course of the game changed when he played on to his stumps off Jamie Overton, who struggled through his 20 balls with an injury that could be a cause for concern for Spirit.
Banton’s departure sparked a collapse of four wickets for 17 runs, including Root for 27 and Rehan Ahmed for a duck, and their task became even more difficult when Tom Alsop was struck by an Overton bouncer that burst through his helmet and he had to retire hurt.
Marcus Stoinis clubbed four sixes late on in a characteristically dynamic 35 not out from 22 balls but Rockets still fell considerably short.
