In an electrifying encounter at a packed Trent Bridge, Welsh Fire narrowly defeated Trent Rockets by four runs, with Jonny Bairstow emerging as the hero of the match. The game, part of The Hundred 2024 series, saw Bairstow outshine his long-time teammate Joe Root in a battle of England legends, captivating the raucous crowd with his performance.

Trent Rockets vs Welsh Fire

The Fire, asked to bat first, managed to post a competitive total of 129/6 on a pitch that favored the spinners. Bairstow was the standout performer, scoring a fluent 55 off 45 balls, which included seven boundaries. His innings provided the backbone of Fire’s total, especially as the spinners dominated the proceedings.

Root, showcasing his versatility, bowled a series of round-arm off-breaks and conceded only 19 runs from his 20-ball spell. Root also claimed the crucial wicket of Fire’s skipper Tom Abell, who contributed a vital 33 runs to the total.

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Dramatic final moments

The chase saw Rockets in a strong position with a brisk start from Alex Hales and Tom Banton. Root, who scored 17 runs, was dismissed in a comical fashion, thanks to a brilliant throw from Joe Clarke at backward point. Sam Hain remained unbeaten with 22 off 26 balls but was involved in mix-ups that resulted in two run-outs, including that of Rashid Khan.

The final 10 balls were a spectacle of high drama, with four wickets falling and the Rockets’ hopes dwindling. David Payne and Haris Rauf bowled with nerves of steel, ensuring a tight defense of the total. The spectacular fielding by the Fire, highlighted by several brilliant catches, turned the game on its head, securing a thrilling victory.

Post-match banter: Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root

After the match, Bairstow shared a light-hearted moment, discussing his banter with Root. Speaking to Sky Sports, Bairstow humorously noted how Root, who has become a regular bowler in Test cricket, bowled lower than Lasith Malinga during the game.

“Yeah, he bottled it, didn’t he? He didn’t even chuck one up. I said to him before he came on, ‘It’s me or you here.’ Then the next thing is he starts bowling lower than Malinga. I couldn’t believe it, so yeah, he’ll be getting some stick for that,” Bairstow said.

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