Image: Joe Root and his first-class play lead the Trent Rockets to victory / © ESPNcricinfo
The match where Welsh Fire (Men) took on Trent Rockets (Men) in the 27th game of The Hundred Men’s Competition at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, kicked off with Fire batting first after Trent Rockets won the toss and chose to field.
The Fire’s openers, Stephen Eskinazi and Steven Smith, walked out with the task of setting a strong platform on a pitch that seemed to offer a bit of help for both batters and bowlers. The early overs were cautious, with the Rockets’ bowlers, led by David Willey, keeping things tight. Smith, looking to get going, couldn’t find his rhythm and fell early for 8 runs off 7 balls, nicking one to the keeper off Sam Cook’s bowling in the third set of five. This left Fire at 19/1, putting pressure on Eskinazi to steady the ship.
Eskinazi rose to the occasion, playing a measured yet aggressive knock of 53 runs off 42 balls. He struck five fours and two sixes, maintaining a strike rate of 126.19, which showed his ability to rotate the strike while punishing loose deliveries. Jonny Bairstow came in next but struggled to get going, managing just 8 runs off 13 balls before being caught off Cook’s bowling in the 36th ball. At 34/2, Fire were in a spot of bother, needing a partnership to rebuild. Captain Tom Abell joined Eskinazi, and the duo clicked instantly, putting together a vital 97-run stand for the third wicket. Abell played with flair, scoring 48 off 29 balls, including five fours and a six, at a strike rate of 165.51. His aggressive approach, especially in the middle phase, helped Fire recover and push the scoring rate.
The partnership took Fire to 131 before Abell was caught behind off Willey’s bowling on the 90th ball. Eskinazi followed soon after, run out for 53 on the 91st ball after a mix-up, a blow that halted Fire’s momentum. Ben Kellaway’s brief stay yielded just 1 run off 3 balls before he was bowled by Lockie Ferguson, leaving Fire at 134/5 with only five balls left. Tom Kohler-Cadmore couldn’t make an impact either, falling for 1 off 2 balls, caught off Marcus Stoinis’ bowling. Chris Green, however, provided a late spark, smashing an unbeaten 11 off 4 balls with two fours, giving Fire a final push to 150/6 in their 100 balls. Extras played a significant role, with 20 runs coming from 7 leg byes, 1 bye, and 12 wides, boosting the total.
The Rockets’ bowling attack was disciplined, with Sam Cook standing out, taking 2 wickets for 17 runs in his 15 balls at an economy of 1.13. David Willey and Lockie Ferguson each picked up a wicket, with economies of 1.50 and 1.05, respectively, while Marcus Stoinis chipped in with one scalp. George Linde and Rehan Ahmed went wicketless but kept the runs in check. Fire’s innings was a story of resilience, with Eskinazi and Abell’s partnership providing the backbone. However, the powerplay (46 runs, no wickets) lacked aggression, and the late collapse prevented them from reaching a more imposing total. The 150 they posted was competitive but left the door open for a determined chase.
The Fire’s batting effort showed flashes of brilliance but was hampered by early losses and a late stutter. Eskinazi’s half-century was the highlight, anchoring the innings, while Abell’s quickfire 48 kept the scoreboard ticking. The failure to capitalize fully in the powerplay and the quick wickets towards the end meant Fire couldn’t push beyond 150, setting up a tense chase for the Rockets. The bowlers, particularly Cook and Ferguson, exploited the pitch’s assistance, but Fire’s extras and inability to accelerate consistently kept the game within reach for their opponents.
The match where Trent Rockets (Men) chased 151 against Welsh Fire (Men) turned into a nail-biter that showcased Joe Root’s class under pressure. Needing 151 to win, Rockets opened with Tom Banton and Joe Root, aiming to make the most of the powerplay. Banton came out firing, smashing 32 off 20 balls with four fours and a six, setting an aggressive tone. Root, playing the anchor, supported him with a steady approach. The pair raced to 66 for the first wicket in just 33 balls, with the powerplay yielding 46 runs without loss. Banton’s dismissal, caught off Ben Kellaway’s bowling in the 33rd ball, brought Rehan Ahmed to the crease.
Ahmed kept the momentum going, scoring 10 off 10 balls with a six, but fell to Saif Zaib, leaving Rockets at 88/2 after 52 balls. Root, however, was unshaken, reaching his fifty off 36 balls with three fours and two sixes, maintaining a strike rate of 156.09. Max Holden joined him, adding 14 off 14 balls, but his departure, caught off Chris Green’s bowling, sparked a wobble. Tom Moores managed just 2 off 3 balls before Green struck again, and George Linde’s quick 12 off 8 balls, including a six, ended with a catch off Riley Meredith.
The Rockets were suddenly in trouble when Marcus Stoinis and captain David Willey fell to David Payne in quick succession, both for low scores, leaving them at 136/7 after 94 balls. With 14 runs needed off the final five balls, the game hung in the balance. Joe Root, unbeaten and in control, stepped up. On the 96th ball, he skipped down the pitch to Chris Green and launched a six over wide long-on, reducing the target to 8 off 4. The 97th ball saw him hammer a four through deep midwicket, bringing the equation to 4 off 3. A full toss on the 98th ball was pulled for a single, leaving Sam Hain to face the 99th ball with 3 needed for victory.
Hain, cool under pressure, smashed a full toss from Green through the covers for four, sealing a dramatic three-wicket win at 152/7 with one ball to spare. Root’s unbeaten 64 off 41 balls was the defining knock, earning him the Player of the Match award. Fire’s bowlers fought hard, with Chris Green and David Payne taking two wickets each, while Riley Meredith and Ben Kellaway claimed one apiece. However, 13 extras (7 leg byes, 1 bye, 1 wide, 4 no-balls) proved costly.
The Rockets’ chase was powered by Root’s composure and Banton’s early aggression, with the powerplay setting a strong foundation. The middle-order wobble tested their depth, but Root’s ability to stay till the end and Hain’s finishing touch ensured Rockets clinched a top-three finish. The final set was a rollercoaster, with Root’s six and four turning the tide, while Green’s full tosses in the clutch proved decisive.
After the 95th ball in a thrilling encounter, Trent Rockets found themselves in a nail-biting situation, needing 14 runs from the final five balls to chase down Welsh Fire’s total. With a score of 137/7, the Rockets were under immense pressure after losing two quick wickets. David Payne was the hero of the moment for Fire, delivering a game-changing spell that tilted the match in their favor. On the 93rd ball, Payne dismissed Marcus Stoinis for just 1 run, as Stoinis mistimed a ramp shot, caught by Josh Hull.
The very next ball saw David Willey, known for his big-hitting, fall for a duck, lobbing a full-length delivery to long-on. Earlier, Payne’s tight bowling restricted the Rockets, with a leg bye off Sam Hain on the 95th ball keeping the scoreboard ticking but not enough to ease the tension. Joe Root, unbeaten on 53 off 38 balls with three fours and two sixes, remained the Rockets’ only hope, but with Hain struggling to get Root back on strike, Fire gained the upper hand. Payne’s figures of 2/38 from 20 balls showcased his clutch performance, making this phase TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game.
Joe Root delivered a match-defining performance for Trent Rockets (Men), earning him the TCNI Hero of the Day title. Batting with finesse, Root remained unbeaten, scoring 64 runs off 41 balls at a strike rate of 156.09. His knock included four fours and three sixes, anchoring the Rockets to 152/7 in 99 balls while chasing 151 from 100 balls. After Tom Banton’s dismissal for 32, Root stabilized the innings with a 66-run stand.
Despite losing partners like Rehan Ahmed (10) and Max Holden (14), he kept the chase alive with smart shot selection and timely aggression. His ability to find boundaries and clear the ropes under pressure was crucial. Root’s composure ensured the Rockets crossed the target, finishing just above the required total. His unbeaten innings was the backbone of the team’s success, making him the standout performer of the match.