In a thrilling WF vs TR encounter at Sophia Gardens, Joe Root posted another calm innings of 64 not out off 41 balls to lead Trent Rockets towards a heart-stopping three-wicket victory over Welsh Fire. Rockets made their way into the top three of The Hundred 2025 with the victory, securing their knockout spot with a game in hand.
Controversial No-Ball Flips the Game Early
The game had drama of its own from the beginning. Welsh Fire’s David Payne seemed to have bowled out Root for a duck, only for the ball to be called a no-ball after a replay showed he had crossed the line. The subsequent free-hit was blasted over long-on for six by Joe Root, a moment which established him for his match-winning innings.
Strong Opening Partnership Puts Rockets on Top
Pursuing 151, Trent Rockets had a dominant start with a 66-run first-wicket partnership between Root and Tom Banton (32 from 20). Their attacking but controlled batting placed the Rockets in a comfortable position until wickets began falling in the middle overs. Saif Zaib bowled Rehan Ahmed, Max Holden holed out off Chris Green, and Tom Moores and three other batsmen fell in succession, piling on the pressure.
Joe Root Stays Composed Despite Late Implosion
Despite of the mini-collapse, Joe Root was cool as a cucumber, guiding the Rockets through the last overs. With 14 required off the last five balls, Root dispatched Chris Green for a six and a four in successive balls, before passing the strike on to Sam Hain, who struck the winning boundary between the covers.
Root’s unscathed 64 off 41* featured six boundaries and a six a match-winning effort that saw him pick up the Meerkat Match Hero award.
“Way too tense for my liking,” Root said afterwards. “Green’s over, I thought I’ve got to hit a six here… I had a good idea of what he was trying to do, and I put a couple away.”
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Welsh Fire Struggle Despite Eskinazi’s Fifty
Batting first, Welsh Fire were 150/6 in their innings. Their conservative powerplay (47 runs from the initial 45 balls) cost them dearly. Mainstays fell early:
Steve Smith was stumped for 8 by Sam Cook, who also caught Jonny Bairstow for a slow 8. Steve Eskinazi scored the highest with 53 (42), while Tom Abell added a quick 48 (29). A brief cameo by Chris Green (11 from 4) took the total to 150. It was not enough for Fire, however, to prevent their fifth defeat in seven games and leave them stuck at the bottom of the table.
WF vs TR: Match Summary
| Team | Score | Result | Player of the Match |
| Welsh Fire | 150/6 (100 balls) | Trent Rockets won by 3 wickets with 1 ball remaining | Joe Root – 64* (41) |
| Trent Rockets | 151/7 (99 balls) |
Rockets Eye Top Position in The Hundred Table
The win against TR not only gave Trent Rockets a top-three finish, but also kept them in the running to qualify first in the group. Winning their final league match against Birmingham Phoenix might see them go directly to the final at Lord’s, subject to other outcomes.
Joe Root Proves His worth in The Hundred 2025
With pressure building, Joe Root stood up again in The Hundred, demonstrating experience, timing, and temperament in a masterclass run-chase. With two consecutive fifties in his kitty, Root is coming into form at the ideal time, providing Trent Rockets with every opportunity to go deep into the competition and perhaps repeat their 2022 championship-winning formula.
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