Trent Rockets secured a comfortable victory over Welsh Fire, handing the hosts their inaugural defeat of the season in The Hundred during a one‑sided encounter at Sophia Gardens. The visitors chased down a modest target of 123 runs with 28 balls remaining, thanks largely to an unbeaten 52 from Ben Duckett, who guided the side home.
The Rockets' chase did not start smoothly; early overs were punctuated by a series of wayward deliveries from the Fire bowlers, who squandered four free‑hits in the powerplay and a total of seven throughout the innings. Duckett opened the innings and, despite only reaching the boundary once in his first four balls, he and fellow opener Finn Allen (who added 33) managed to steady the ship, taking the score to 42‑0 after 25 deliveries without any serious alarm. Allen soon displayed his aggressive intent, ripping 17 runs off Sam Cook's first five balls. The partnership between Duckett and Allen continued to flourish against an uninspired Fire attack, propelling the total to 75 before Allen was dismissed leg‑before‑wicket by his compatriot Rachin Ravindra for 33.
Duckett, now joined by Tom Banton, who contributed 31, kept the momentum alive and reached his second half‑century in as many games, this time from just 42 balls. The Rockets eventually posted 123‑2, securing their second win from three matches and moving up to second place on the league table.
Welsh Fire, who had elected to bat first, stumbled out of the gates, ending their powerplay on 26‑2. Early wickets fell as Phil Salt and Joe Root were each dismissed for five runs by Matt Henry, who claimed figures of 2‑16.
After reaching 59‑2 at the halfway stage, the Fire attempted to accelerate but lost three wickets in quick succession, including a well‑timed dismissal of Matt Short, who had been the most settled batsman at 36 from 26 balls. Jordan Cox attempted a counter‑attack, blasting three consecutive sixes off Mitchell Santner's left‑arm spin before being caught spectacularly on the cover boundary by a diving Allen while attempting a fourth six. The innings collapsed further as Asa Tribe and Chris Woakes failed to make an impact against the bowling of Mohammad Amir and Lewis Gregory, leaving the Fire all out for 122‑7. The Rockets' chase was made easier by the free‑hits awarded to them, and Duckett reflected on the win, noting that the bowlers had adapted well to the conditions and that Finn Allen's aggressive batting had taken much of the pressure off him.
He admitted that he struggled to find his rhythm at times but praised his teammates for their contributions. In a separate match, 20‑year‑old Lhuan‑dre Pretorius delivered a stunning performance for London Spirit, smashing 64 runs off just 28 balls to steer his side to 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 off Trent Boult that travelled an estimated 106 metres over mid‑wicket. The pair reached 50 in just 18 balls and closed the powerplay on 61‑0, effectively dismantling the opposition’s plans. Bairstow was dismissed for 23 off 12 balls, but Pretorius continued his on‑fire display, reaching his maiden Hundred half‑century from 23 balls and striking seven boundaries in the process.
He fell to Boult at 101 runs, just before the midway point of the Spirit innings, but the damage was already done. Dewald Brevis added a rapid 37 not out from 18 balls, ensuring the Spirit clinched the victory with 11 balls to spare. MI London’s innings had been steadier at the start, with Will Jacks (65) and James Vince (26) navigating the early spell of David Willey and Adam Milne to finish the powerplay on 28‑0. Their patience paid off as they accelerated against Adam Zampa and Andrew Tye, with Jacks reaching his half‑century from 30 balls.
However, wickets began to tumble when Vince fell to James Coles for 26 and Jamie Overton claimed the wickets of Jacks and newcomer Nicholas Pooran in quick succession. Jacks ended on a magnificent 65 from 44 balls, becoming the highest run‑scorer in the history of The Hundred men’s competition.
Overton also dismissed veteran Jason Roy, who was caught behind after a review, as MI London fielded a replacement for skipper Sam Curran, who missed the match due to a precautionary muscle tightness. Late hitting from Sherfane Rutherford pushed MI London past the 160‑run mark, but his 41 off 19 balls could not prevent Pretorius’s on‑fire assault from sealing the Spirit’s win.
Both Duckett and Pretorius were named Meerkat Match Heroes on Sky Sports Cricket, each praising their teammates and reflecting on the importance of early momentum in a short format competition. The upcoming fixtures feature Southern Brave hosting Birmingham Phoenix, with both the women's and men's matches broadcast live on Sky Sports. Viewers can also stream The Hundred and additional content on the NOW platform.