By Jon Culley

THE Trent Rockets’ title defence remains in the balance but is in better shape than before after they thumped Birmingham Phoenix by 46 runs in the final Men’s Hundred match at Trent Bridge, watched by a record crowd of 15,551. Off-spinner Matt Carter (2-15) and Australia all-rounder Daniel Sams (3-17) stood out with the ball as Phoenix, now eliminated, could muster only 116-9 despite 38 off 22 balls from Jamie Smith in response to the Rockets’ 162 for six, to which Colin Munro (34 off 17), Sam Hain (30 off 21) and Alex Hales (27 off 14) were the...