*THE MENS HUNDRED COMPETITION- WELSH FIRE VS TRENT ROCKETS 2023 PREVIEW*
*THE BUILD UP:*
You talk about balancing acts and the Welsh Fire are pulling one at the moment with 2 losses and 2 wins alongside a tied game, which was one for the ages. The likes of Haris Rauf and Shaheen, two speedsters in their lineup, have been phenomenal at best and it makes sense why the team would bank on them once again to try and come victorious.
In their last game against Southern Brave, Welsh Fire suffered a nine-wicket defeat. Stevie Eskinazi emerged as the standout performer for WEF, scoring 38 runs off just 34 balls. In the bowling department, David Payne took one wicket.
The Rockets with two losses and a no result have started their campaign on a poor note. They have now lost two in a row by very close margins and this should hurt. The return of Joe Root who smashed his way to glory with a 35 ball 72 was a happy welcoming and the test specialist would love to keep this going. In bowling, Sam Cook and Ish Sodhi took two wickets each and the team would bank on this duo to go from strength to strength.
*WELSH FIRE PROBABLE XI:*
Stephen Eskinazi, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Clarke (wk), Tom Abell (c), Glenn Phillips, David Willey, Ben Green, Roelof van der Merwe, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, David Payne
There was a new big name in the Welsh Fire line-up for the first time this season as Jonny Bairstow made his first appearance since the end of the Men’s Ashes. The openers return was a much awaited one and his range hitting in T20Is is one thing that the team will be bolstered by. A feature that could go against him is his absence of white ball cricket lately and his poor form for PBKS in the last two seasons. Barring that, the right handed batter with his powerpacked batting backed by maturity will be keen to grab the Rockets soon.
The 29-year-old is the leading run scorer for his side with 116 runs to his name from five innings at an average of 29 and a strike rate of 150.64. Eskinazi has made valuable contributions with the bat so far in the tournament and will be eager to add more runs to his tally in the upcoming fixture.
*TRENT ROCKETS PROBABLE XI:*
Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Tom Kohler-Cadmore (wk), Joe Root, Colin Munro, Daniel Sams. Lewis Gregory (c), Sam Hain, Ish Sodhi, Luke Wood, Sam Cook
Dawid Malan, the left-handed batter has an excellent domestic record in short format cricket. He is yet to make a big score in this season but this could be the match. The southpaw times the ball nicely and likes to pick the gaps well, he would like to get back on, abiding by his reputation.
Luke Wood, with his ability to rattle pacers with his raw pace and his swing at high pace is an incredible pick for the Rockets. He has been amongst the wickets this season and has been a dominant force across the T20 leagues. The left armer would be eager to repeat his heroics.
*MY PREDICTIONS:*
*FOR WELSH FIRE:*
Highest run getter- Stephen/Bairstow
Highest wicket taker- Shaheen Afridi/Haris Rauf
*FOR ROCKETS:*
Highest run getter- Malan/Joe Root
Highest wicket taker- Ish Sodhi/Luke Wood
*FOR THIS GAME:*
Welsh Fire to win this game