TRENT Rockets captain Lewis Gregory has snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a match-winning cameo against Manchester Originals, sealing a tense men’s Hundred final in dramatic fashion. On a sluggish, low-scoring Lord’s pitch that allowed ball to dominate bat in a manner that would have had the England and Wales Cricket Board’s marketing department in a cold sweat, Gregory conjured a box office finish for the showcase.

Chasing what had looked a slender target of 121, Gregory faced up with the score at 8-110 and needing 11 to win from the final set of five from Richard Gleeson.

He launched the first of those riotously over mid-wicket for six – just the fourth maximum of the day, in a format designed to encourage big hitters – before flicking the subsequent full toss for four to effectively settle matters in the Nottingham side’s favour.

Gregory lashed the next ball through the covers before leaping into the air, sealing a two-wicket win with two balls to spare

In a match that saw a top score of 26 and included 74 dot balls, his 17 not out from six deliveries was a game-changer when the pressure was peaking. The Rockets’ Sam Cook, who claimed 4-18, was the pick of the bowlers in helpful conditions.

With a modest target on the board, a place in England’s T20 World Cup squad waiting to be filled following Jonny Bairstow’s injury and Phil Salt failing to seize his moment in the first innings, the stage had earlier seemed set for an Alex Hales special.

One trademark ‘Hales storm’ would have cranked up the volume around the end of his three-year stint in the international wilderness, but he was unable to oblige
He mustered nothing more emphatic than a run-a-ball eight before the tournament’s leading run-scorer, Dawid Malan, assumed responsibility.

On the occasion of his 35th birthday, he seemed intent on making it a double celebration but was out for 19.

Colin Munro (16) showed he had the muscle to end things in a hurry, launching a six and two fours, but could not match it with durability and holed out with 53 still needed.

The Originals kicked their innings of 9-120 off with a hapless powerplay; a couple of quick-fire boundaries from Salt proving a red herring as they meandered towards a score of 3-23.

Perth Scorchers captain Ashton Turner (26) and Tristan Stubbs (18) began to make a fist of it

Their 35-run stand was just beginning to find its legs when the canny Samit Patel (3-23) swiped them.

He found himself on a hat-trick when Stubbs top-edged across the line before picking up Paul Walter for a golden duck.

He was unable to make it three in three but circled back for Turner, whose fluent knock was cut short courtesy of a slog sweep that came up short. (PA Sport)