Trent Rockets secured a convincing victory over Welsh Fire at Sophia Gardens, handing the hosts their inaugural defeat of the season in The Hundred. The chase was straightforward: the Rockets chased down a modest total of 123 runs with 28 balls still remaining, propelled by Ben Duckett’s unbeaten 52.
The opening overs of the run‑chase were anything but silky, but the Fire’s bowling unit made several costly errors, conceding four wides in the powerplay and a total of seven extra deliveries throughout the innings. Duckett, who opened the innings, managed only a single boundary in his first four balls, yet he and Finn Allen, who contributed 33 runs, steadied the ship and pushed the score to 42‑0 after 25 deliveries without any real pressure. Allen’s aggressive intent soon paid dividends. He ripped 17 runs off Sam Cook’s first five balls, accelerating the run rate and helping the pair take the total to 75 before Allen fell lbw to fellow New Zealander Rachin Ravindra for 33.
Duckett, now joined by Tom Banton, who added 31, continued to dominate. Duckett reached his second consecutive fifty, this time from 42 balls, as the Rockets moved comfortably to two wins from three matches, climbing to second place on the league table. Welsh Fire, who were forced to bat first, stumbled early, losing Phil Salt and Joe Root for just five runs each to the disciplined seam of Matt Henry, who claimed figures of 2‑16. The Fire’s powerplay concluded at 26‑2, and despite a brief resurgence that saw them reach 59‑2 at the halfway point, they lost three wickets in quick succession, including the well‑set Matt Short, who was dismissed for 36 off 26 balls.
Jordan Cox attempted a counter‑attack, blasting three consecutive sixes off Mitchell Santner’s left‑arm spin, but was caught spectacularly on the cover boundary by a diving Allen while attempting a fourth. The innings folded at 122‑7, with Asa Tribe and Chris Woakes unable to find the boundary against the experienced bowling of Mohammad Amir and Lewis Gregory in the final overs. The Rockets’ chase was largely untroubled.
Duckett’s innings was punctuated by a calm approach through the powerplay, and he highlighted the impact of the Fire’s four wides, which he said made his job easier. He also praised Finn Allen’s aggressive hitting and Tom Banton’s supportive cameo, noting that they took the pressure off him. In a separate match, 20‑year‑old Lhuan‑dre Pretorius lit up the tournament for London Spirit, smashing 64 runs from just 28 balls to guide his side to a seven‑wicket win over MI London in a thrilling London derby. Chasing 165, Pretorius and Jonny Bairstow exploded out of the blocks, with Pretorius dispatching a Trent Boult delivery for a massive six that travelled 106 metres over mid‑wicket.
The duo raced to 50 runs in just 18 balls and closed the powerplay at 61‑0, effectively dismantling the opposition’s early plans. Although Bairstow was dismissed for 23 off 12 balls, Pretorius kept the momentum alive, reaching his first half‑century in The Hundred from 23 balls and striking seven boundaries. He fell to Boult at 101 runs, just before the midway point of the Spirit’s innings, but his on‑field assault had already set the tone. Dewald Brevis added a quickfire 37 not out from 18 balls, ensuring the Spirit secured their first win of the season with 11 balls to spare.
MI London’s innings had been more measured. Will Jacks (65) and James Vince (26) navigated a tight early spell from David Willey and Adam Milne, reaching 28‑0 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, the momentum shifted when Vince fell to James Coles for 26, and Jamie Overton claimed the wickets of Jacks and newcomer Nicholas Pooran in quick succession. Jacks’ 65 from 44 balls made him the highest run‑scorer in the history of The Hundred men’s competition. Overton continued the Spirit’s resurgence, dismissing Jason Roy (caught behind on review) and bringing in veteran Sam Curran, who had missed the match due to a precautionary muscle tightness issue. Sherfane Rutherford’s late hitting propelled MI London past the 160‑run mark, but Pretorius’s power hitting proved decisive, allowing the Spirit to chase down the target comfortably.
Both Duckett and Pretorius were named Meerkat Match Heroes on Sky Sports Cricket, with Duckett acknowledging the importance of adapting to pitch conditions early and crediting the bowlers for their disciplined performance. Pretorius expressed satisfaction with the win, noting that a specific training drill with batting coach Dinesh Karthik had helped him execute a crucial shot over short‑fine and fine‑leg, even though it resulted in his dismissal.
Looking ahead, Southern Brave will host Birmingham Phoenix on Thursday, with the women's match slated for 3 pm and the men's fixture at 6.30 pm, both broadcast live on Sky Sports. The tournament continues to deliver high‑octane cricket, showcasing emerging talent and seasoned professionals alike, as teams vie for top positions in the dynamic and fast‑paced format of The Hundred.