Trent Rockets take top spot on back of Finn Allen knock

Trent Rockets claimed top spot in the standings after a comfortable 6-wicket win over the Manchester Super Giants at Emirates Old Trafford, reaching their target of 138 with 13 balls to spare. Finn Allen's Blitz: Finn Allen smashed an unbeaten 72 off 35 balls, bringing up his half-century off just 23 deliveries to anchor the chase. Early Trouble Neutralized: Despite losing Ben Duckett early to Gus Atkinson and Tom Banton to Sonny Baker, Allen partnered with Sam Billings (50-run stand off 25 balls) and Mitchell Santner (24* off 17) to guide Trent Rockets home comfortably. Overton's Triple Strike: Earlier in the match, Craig Overton ripped through the Super Giants' top order with figures of 3-23, dismissing Tim Seifert, Aiden Markram, and Heinrich Klaasen (for a two-ball duck). Buttler's Counter: Jos Buttler scored his third consecutive half-century (55 off 42 balls*) alongside Leus du Plooy (40*), lifting the Super Giants to 137/3 after a slow start, but it wasn't enough to contain the Rockets. Ben Duckett fell second ball of Rockets' chase, castled by England team-mate Gus Atkinson after a failed attempt at a scoop. Tom Banton was then dismissed by Sonny Baker to put the pressure on Allen and new man Sam Billings. Unfazed, Billings and Allen got into their work, targeting both spin and seam, and reached a 50 partnership from 25 balls. Allen had a life off Liam Dawson on 32 - an incredibly difficult caught-and-bowled - and went on to reach a 50 from 23 balls. Sluggish Middle Phase: Jos Buttler and Leus du Plooy struggled early to accelerate against Mitchell Santner's spin and Lewis Gregory's changes of pace and length. du Plooy's Big Hits: The momentum shifted when du Plooy hit a six off the last ball of Matt Henry's quota, followed by another maximum off Mohammad Amir, elevating the score to 115/3 with 10 balls left. Strong Finish: Buttler provided a grandstand finish, taking 14 runs (two fours and a six) off Gregory in the final five balls. This brought up his third consecutive half-century (*55 ) and lifted the Super Giants to 137/3. On returning to The Hundred, he added: "The first game was definitely a shock to the system, it goes pretty quickly. But I guess it's like looking at it like every other game and having the same processes." Trent Rockets 140 for 4 (Allen 72*) beat Manchester Super Giants 137 for 3 (Buttler 55*, du Plooy 40*, Overton 3-23) by six wickets