In a commanding display at Sophia Gardens, the Trent Rockets secured a comfortable victory over Welsh Fire, handing the hosts their inaugural defeat of the season in The Hundred. The Rockets chased down a modest target of 123 runs with 28 balls to spare, propelled by an unbeaten 52 from Ben Duckett, who guided his side to a decisive win. The chase began shakily for Trent, with the opening partnership struggling to find momentum.
However, the Fire’s bowling unit made several costly errors, conceding four free‑hits during the powerplay and a total of seven throughout their spell. These lapses proved pivotal, allowing the Rockets to settle into a steady rhythm. Duckett, who faced the first four deliveries of the innings, managed only a single boundary early on.
Yet, together with Finn Allen, who contributed 33 runs, the pair nudged the score to 42 for no loss after 25 balls, alleviating any early concerns. Allen’s aggressive intent soon manifested; he ripped 17 runs off Sam Cook’s first five balls, accelerating the run‑rate and pushing the total to 75 before being dismissed lbw by fellow New Zealander Rachin Ravindra. Undeterred, Duckett continued his assault, this time supported by Tom Banton, who added 31 runs. Duckett’s composure paid off as he reached a second consecutive half‑century, this time from just 42 balls, cementing his status as a reliable finisher for the Rockets.
Their partnership ensured that Trent comfortably surpassed the required total, securing their second win from three matches and moving them up to second place on the league table. Welsh Fire, who had elected to bat first, stumbled early, ending their powerplay at 26 for two.
Their early wickets fell to the seam attack of Matt Henry, who claimed the scalps of Phil Salt and Joe Root for five runs each. Despite a brief resurgence that saw the Fire reach 59 for two at the halfway mark, they soon lost three wickets in quick succession, including a crucial dismissal of Matt Short, who had been set at 36 from 26 balls. Jordan Cox attempted to revive the innings with a flurry of sixes, striking three consecutive boundaries off Mitchell Santner’s left‑arm spin.
His momentum was halted when he was caught spectacularly on the cover boundary by a diving Finn Allen while attempting a fourth six. The Fire’s lower order, featuring Asa Tribe and Chris Woakes, failed to add significant runs, and the innings concluded at 122 for seven, falling short of the target.
Post‑match, Ben Duckett reflected on the victory, praising the bowlers for their adaptability to the pitch and acknowledging the impact of the four free‑hits awarded to the opposition. He admitted that finding his rhythm was challenging but highlighted Finn Allen’s aggressive batting and Tom Banton’s support as key factors that eased the pressure on him.
In a separate fixture, twenty‑year‑old Lhuan‑dre Pretorius delivered a spectacular performance for the London Spirit, smashing 64 runs off just 28 balls to secure a seven‑wicket win over MI London in a fiercely contested London derby. Chasing a target of 165, Pretorius and Jonny Bairstow exploded out of the blocks, with Pretorius dispatching a massive six that sailed 106 metres over mid‑wicket.
The opening pair raced to 50 runs in just 18 balls and closed the powerplay at 61 for no wicket, effectively dismantling the opposition’s early plans. Although Bairstow was dismissed for 23 off 12 balls, Pretorius maintained the momentum, reaching his maiden Hundred half‑century from 23 deliveries and striking seven boundaries in the process.
He fell to Trent Boult when the Spirit’s score stood at 101, but his earlier onslaught had already set the platform for Dewald Brevis, who contributed an unbeaten 37 from 18 balls, guiding the Spirit to victory with 11 balls remaining. MI London’s innings had started more cautiously. Will Jacks (65) and James Vince (26) negotiated a disciplined spell from David Willey and Adam Milne, reaching 28 for no loss at the end of the powerplay. Their patience paid off as they accelerated against Adam Zampa and Andrew Tye, with Jacks reaching his own half‑century from 30 balls.
However, wickets began to tumble when Vince fell to James Coles, and Jamie Overton soon dismissed both Jacks and newcomer Nicholas Pooran in quick succession. Jacks’ 65 from 44 balls elevated him to the all‑time leading run‑scorer in the men's Hundred competition.
Overton continued the Spirit’s resurgence, removing Jason Roy in a close‑run review, while MI London’s captain Sam Curran sat out due to a precautionary muscle issue. Late‑order hitting from Sherfane Rutherford pushed MI London past the 160‑run mark, but Pretorius’ explosive batting ultimately proved too much for the hosts to chase. Reflecting on his performance, Pretorius expressed satisfaction with the win, noting that a specific practice session with batting coach Dinesh Karthik had helped him perfect a shot over short‑fine and fine‑leg, which proved decisive. He acknowledged the risk inherent in his aggressive approach but was pleased to have contributed to the team’s first triumph of the season.
Looking ahead, Southern Brave will host Birmingham Phoenix on Thursday, with the women's match slated for 3 pm and the men's fixture following at 6:30 pm, both broadcast live on Sky Sports. Fans can also stream The Hundred and additional content on the NOW platform, while keeping an eye on the latest league tables and squad updates for the 2026 season.