Trent Rockets secured a comprehensive victory over Welsh Fire, handing the hosts their inaugural defeat of the season in The Hundred. The match, played at Sophia Gardens, saw the Rockets chase down a modest target of 123 runs with 28 balls to spare, propelled by an unbeaten 52 from Ben Duckett. The opening phase of the Rockets' innings was anything but smooth. Fire's bowlers struggled with discipline, conceding four wides in the powerplay and a total of seven extras throughout their spell.
Duckett, who opened the chase, managed only a single boundary in his first four deliveries, yet he and fellow opener Finn Allen (who contributed 33) steadied the ship, reaching 42 runs without loss after 25 balls. Their partnership set a calm tone, despite the early mishaps. Allen soon turned the momentum in his favour, unleashing a flurry of aggressive strokes that yielded 17 runs from Sam Cook's first five balls. The duo continued to dominate a lackluster Fire attack, pushing the score to 75 before Allen fell lbw to Kiwi bowler Rachin Ravindra for 33.
Duckett, now joined by Tom Banton (31), pressed on and celebrated his second consecutive half-century, this time reaching 50 off just 42 balls. Their partnership ensured the Rockets comfortably secured the win, marking their second triumph from three matches and propelling them to second place on the league table. Welsh Fire, who had elected to bat first, stumbled early, ending their powerplay at 26 for 2.
Their early wickets fell to Matt Henry, who claimed Phil Salt and Joe Root for five runs each. After a brief resurgence that saw them reach 59 for 2 at the halfway mark, Fire lost three quick wickets in the next 14 deliveries, including a well‑timed dismissal of Matt Short, who had been the most settled batsman with 36 runs off 26 balls.
Jordan Cox attempted a counter‑attack, hammering three consecutive sixes off Mitchell Santner's left‑arm spin before being caught spectacularly on the cover boundary by a diving Finn Allen while attempting a fourth. The innings eventually folded at 122 for 7, with lower‑order contributions from Asa Tribe and Chris Woakes failing to add much, as they were bowled out by Mohammad Amir and Lewis Gregory.
The Rockets' chase was eased further by the free hits awarded to Fire, which Duckett acknowledged as a significant advantage. In post‑match comments, Duckett praised the bowlers for adapting quickly to the conditions and highlighted Finn Allen's aggressive approach as a key factor that relieved pressure from his own innings. He also noted his own struggle to find rhythm early on, but credited his teammates for easing the chase.
In a separate fixture, London Spirit delivered a dominant performance against MI London, with 20‑year‑old Lhuan‑dre Pretorius blasting 64 runs from just 28 balls. Chasing 165, Spirit opened with Jonny Bairstow and Pretorius, who sent a towering six 106 metres over mid‑wicket, clearing the ropes seven times.
The pair raced to 50 runs in just 18 balls and finished the powerplay at 61 for 0, effectively dismantling the opposition's chances. Bairstow was dismissed for 23 off 12 balls, but Pretorius continued his on‑fire display, reaching his first Fifty in The Hundred in just 23 deliveries. He was eventually caught by Trent Boult at 101 runs, just before the midway point of the innings, but his explosive start had already set the platform. Dewald Brevis added a rapid 37 not out from 18 balls, guiding Spirit to a seven‑wicket win with 11 balls remaining, lifting them out of the bottom of the table.
MI London’s innings had begun more cautiously, with Will Jacks (65) and James Vince (26) navigating early overs against David Willey and Adam Milne, reaching 28 for 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, wickets soon fell in quick succession: Vince was out for 26, followed by Jamie Overton’s three‑wicket burst that removed Jacks and Nicholas Pooran within three deliveries.
Jacks’ 65 from 44 balls made him the highest run‑scorer in the history of The Hundred men’s competition. Overton continued to apply pressure, dismissing veteran Jason Roy, who was replaced by Sam Curran due to a precautionary muscle tightness. Late hitting from Sherfane Rutherford pushed MI London past the 160‑run mark, but Pretorius’ power hitting ultimately proved decisive, ensuring Spirit’s victory and keeping them in contention. Both Duckett and Pretorius were named Meerkat Match Heroes on Sky Sports Cricket, reflecting their impactful performances.
Duckett emphasized the importance of adapting to the pitch and the advantage of free hits, while Pretorius highlighted his preparation with batting coach Dinesh Karthik, noting a specific shot over short‑fine and fine‑leg that paid dividends. 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 on Sky Sports. Fans can also stream The Hundred and additional content on NOW, while the latest league tables and squad updates for the 2026 season continue to evolve as the competition progresses.