England team-mates Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root are set to line up against each other when Welsh Fire entertain reigning champions Trent Rockets in The Hundred in Cardiff on Monday 14 August.
Both sides have made mixed starts. Welsh Fire started their 2023 campaign with a nine-run win over Manchester Originals, before being edged out by Southern Brave in a two-run defeat.
They then tied with Oval Invincibles when both sides posted scores of 138, before a six-wicket win over Birmingham Phoenix was swiftly followed up by a disappointing nine-wicket loss to Southern Brave at home on Saturday, when Tymal Mills struck with only the second ever hat-trick in the Men’s Hundred.
Trent Rockets saw off Southern Brave in their opener before their clash with Birmingham at Edgbaston was then rained off. They have since lost to Northern Superchargers and London Spirit so are in need of a win on Monday as they sit sixth in the table, two places and two points behind Monday’s opponents.
Welsh Fire vs Trent Rockets Prediction
Team news
Bairstow is set to feature again for Fire, who are captained by all-rounder Tom Abell. Stephen Eskinazi is Welsh Fire’s top runscorer so far with 116, so he will be hoping to continue his impressive form in Cardiff, while bowler Shaheen Afridi has picked up six wickets in the tournament to date.
Root will be hoping to build on his brilliant unbeaten 72 against Southern Brave last time out, while Sam Hain is another man in form as he’s the Rockets’ top runscorer with 83.
Luke Wood has been the pick of the bowlers for Trent Rockets, with four in this year’s Hundred so far, while the likes of Ish Sodhi, Daniel Sams and Brad Wheal will all also be hoping for wickets at Sophia Gardens.
Trent Rockets to win @ 4/5
Welsh Fire posted just 87 from their 100 balls against Southern Brave – their lowest-ever total in The Hundred – as England star Bairstow’s first appearance in this year’s competition didn’t go to plan.
Bairstow went for a fourth-ball duck when bowled by Craig Overton, while there was more misery for Joe Clarke as he suffered the same fate – the third time in this year’s tournament that he has been dismissed without scoring a run.
The Rockets, led by Lewis Gregory, came close to reaching their target of 196 to beat Spirit on Saturday but former England Test skipper Root’s superb 72 was not quite enough as Nathan Ellis dismissed Daniel Sams, who scored 32 off 11, before Spirit were able to keep Gregory at bay.
As the match odds suggest this could be another tight clash and both will be keen to bounce back from their respective defeats on Saturday.
However, with the Rockets having Root, Alex Hales and Dawid Malan in their ranks to rely on for runs, plus Wood and Sodhi in the bowling department, they are tipped to prevail.
Ish Sodhi – Trent Rockets Top Wicket Taker @ 3/1
New Zealander Sodhi made his first appearance for the Rockets in this year’s tournament last time out against London Spirit and ended with figures of 2-29 from his 20 balls bowled.
After taking the wickets of Zack Crawley and Matthew Wade at Lord’s he is tipped to follow up with another good showing at Sophia Gardens as he looks to play a key role in helping his side secure what would be a much-needed second win in the group stage.
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