Stoinis, Root fail to fire but Rockets still blast off
Three years since his last, fairly underwhelming spell with Southern Brave, the powerful Australian allrounder was out to shine as a big-name capture for the Nottingham-based Rockets.
But the 35-year-old proved their most expensive bowler against Birmingham Phoenix on Friday night, recording figures of 0-34 off his 20 deliveries, before then being dismissed for just seven.
The perfect start to 2025 for Trent Rockets 💛💫#TheHundred pic.twitter.com/iml2gUALqH
— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 8, 2025
Yet even though both the Perth star and Joe Root, the world's No.1 Test batter, could only muster 13 runs between them, the Rockets still made light work of chasing down Birmingham's mediocre 6-122 to win by six wickets, with 22 of their 100-ball allocation still remaining.
Instead, the batting donkey work was done by England's often underrated international Tom Banton, who provided a reminder of his excellence with a destructive knock of 43 off 29 balls that featured three fours and three sixes.
It was the highest score on a night when Banton outshone more vaunted English colleagues.
Birmingham had had to rely on an innings-high 39 from captain Liam Livingstone after Ben Duckett (0) and Jacob Bethell (6), fresh from their Test commitments against India, fell cheaply.
The Rockets' New Zealand quick Lockie Ferguson was key in the Phoenix struggles, taking 3-20, making life easier for the likes of Root, billed as the match's star attraction following his own Test heroics.
If you watch one thing todayMake it this Sam Cook run out ☝️#TheHundred pic.twitter.com/QO0FBzDNcK
— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 8, 2025
But there was some irony in the Yorkshire great being bowled for just six by England's bowling consultant, New Zealand veteran Tim Southee.
Still, Rehan Ahmed (25) and Banton then motored along in a rapid 51-run partnership, before Stoinis later joined the party, crashing Southee over deep midwicket for a 78-metre six, before the 36-year-old Kiwi got him to sky the very next ball into the hands of Dan Mousely.
Stoinis had lasted only five balls, but Max Holden soon finished the job with four boundaries in his unbeaten 22.
With agencies
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tottenham Hotspur Have Set Their Sights On This Manchester City Playmaker: Good Option For Frank?
In a recent report, journalists Daniel Feliciano and Dean Jones stated that Tottenham Hotspur have set their sights on Manchester City playmaker James McAtee. It has been claimed that Spurs are eager to get a deal done for the English talent this summer. McAtee's Impressive Form In English Football McAtee managed to shine at times for Man City in the previous campaign when he put in a handful of eye-catching displays for them in the final third. The 22-year-old found the back of the net seven times in 27 matches for the Mancunian club last season across all fronts. The English attacker gave a good account of himself in the opposition half as he averaged 3.09 shots per 90 minutes in the Premier League. He kept 33.3% of his attempts on target. McAtee was even accurate when distributing the ball from midfield after making 80% of his attempted passes in top-flight football (stats via His current contract at the Etihad Stadium will run out in the summer of 2026. Thus, Tottenham could potentially land him on a cut-price deal this off-season. BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA – JUNE 28: James McAtee of U21 England reacts during the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2025 Final match between England and Germany at National Football stadium on June 28, 2025 in Bratislava, Slovakia. (Photo by) Is McAtee A Good Option For Tottenham Hotspur Boss Thomas Frank? McAtee is a decent dribbler with the ball at his feet and has got the vision to create a few meaningful openings for his teammates in the final third. He can shoot the ball with venom from long range and can chip in by scoring a few important goals for his team. The English sensation is primarily an attacking midfielder but can also operate as a box-to-box midfielder or as a right-sided wide player if told to do so by his manager. He has already got some experience in the Premier League and won't take much time to adjust to life at Tottenham. McAtee would undoubtedly enhance the quality of Spurs boss Thomas Frank's frontline in the long run. He has what it takes to fight for regular first-team football at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next season. At 22, McAtee has the potential to be a future star in English football as long as he continues to improve with each year. Therefore, he would be an excellent option for the North London club to pursue in this summer transfer window.
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
McKenna gives latest on Akpom chase, Hutchinson absence and Cajuste fitness
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna says he is hopeful of the club completing a deal for Ajax striker Chuba Akpom. The Blues hijacked Birmingham City's attempts to land the former Middlesbrough man on loan earlier this week. There were fresh reports, ahead of Town starting their Championship season with a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Birmingham tonight, that Turkish side Trabzonspor were now looking to swoop for the 29-year-old. "To be honest, I've not been across it massively," said McKenna. "My latest understanding was it was sort of a deal that all parties were trying to push through and wanting to do and I've not heard anything to the contrary for that. I'm waiting for some feedback from the club." Town did sign Jens Cajuste yesterday, the Swedish midfielder returning for a second loan spell from Napoli. He was registered in time to feature tonight, but didn't travel with the squad. "It definitely came too soon for him," said McKenna. "He arrived really late. I've only seen him for about 15 seconds since he since he joined. I've had plenty of phone calls. "He's going to need a little bit of time, hopefully not too long, getting up to speed. To be honest, he's not had a proper pre-season with Napoli. So it's going to be a balance between getting him contributing as quickly as possible and also setting him up for a long, hard season. We've got to get that balance right over the next few weeks." Town star Omari Hutchinson also didn't feature tonight. Ipswich have rejected £35m bids from Brentford and Nottingham Forest for the England U21 international this summer and he subsequently didn't travel for a pre-season friendly in France as he was 'mentally not in the right place'. On his latest absence, McKenna explained: "He's not very well. He had a throat infection. It's nothing untoward or anything like that. He was in training Monday and Tuesday, getting ready for the game, then had to go home with a temperature and a throat infection. Hopefully he'll recover over the weekend." Jaden Philogene also wasn't in the Blues' matchday squad, having suffered an ankle injury in the last game of pre-season. "We feared that it might be a little bit longer, but he's progressing pretty well," said McKenna, whose team go to League Two side Bromley for a League Cup first round tie on Tuesday night. "We have to see how he goes into next week."
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Alexander Isak's CONTROVERSIAL move will give Liverpool pause
Liverpool are bound to pause after witnessing Alexander Isak's controversial move. Should a deal still happen? The Alexander Isak saga continues as Liverpool do what they can to sign the striker. The Reds have had him at the top of their shortlist all year - now things are starting to accelerate. The Chronicle goes as far as claiming insiders at Newcastle United feel Isak has played his final game for the club. That's perhaps the strongest line yet that he'll be on the move. LFC x adidas Shop the home range today! LFC x adidas Shop the goalkeeper range today LFC x adidas Shop the new adidas range today! 🔴 Shop the LFC 2025/26 adidas home range 'On the move', of course, means to Liverpool. That's Isak's destination of choice and the only club willing to stump up the kind of cash Newcastle want. It would take a record fee for them to even consider a sale. And even then, they haven't wanted to let go of their star player. The result is Isak trying to force their hand and things continue to escalate there. Enough so that it may give Liverpool pause. 🔴 Shop the LFC 2025/26 adidas away range Alexander Isak's attempts The Chronicle report is not the only one to say that Isak reacted incredibly poorly to Newcastle's latest attempts to reintegrate him. "It is understood that the prospect of reintegration was put to the 25-year-old in the build-up to Newcastle's friendly double header," writes Lee Ryder. "But Chronicle Live understands that Isak's reaction to that idea made it impossible for him to be selected - regardless of being fully fit." Impossible? That's a remarkably poor reaction - one that isn't reflecting too well on a player who still has three years remaining on his contract. Liverpool, after all, massively value a player's personality and attitude before signing them. Isak completely isolating himself from Newcastle's squad - to the point where he heads to the training ground after the rest of the squad has left - isn't a positive sign.
