The Hundred Man Competition, Sophia Gardens

Welsh Fire 122-7 (100 balls): Short 36 (26); Santner 3-35

Trent Rockets 126-1 (72 balls): Duckett 52* (45), Allen 33 (19)

Trent Rockets won by nine wickets

Scorekeeper. Table

Ben Duckett hit an unbeaten half-century as Trent Rockets demolished Welsh Fire by nine wickets in Cardiff to make it two wins from three matches in this season’s Hundred.

Chasing 123 on a tricky two-pace wicket at Sophia Gardens, the visitors got off to a solid start through Duckett before Finn Allen picked up the pace with a rapid-fire 19-ball 33 during an opening 75-run partnership.

Allen finally fell to Rachin Ravindra and the Rockets needed 48 runs off 56 balls.

England opener Duckett, however, continued to build a cautious innings, reaching his seventh half-century in the history of the competition off 43 balls.

The Fire’s task of defending a paltry total was not helped by the seven free throws their bowlers conceded and with Tom Banton adding a spirited unbeaten 31 off 15 balls, the Rockets reached the target with 28 balls to spare.

The victory sealed a double for the Rockets over the Fire on Wednesday after their women’s team also won comfortably earlier.

Batting first, Fire had huffed and puffed to 122-7 after losing Phil Salt and Joe Root early in single figures to Matt Henry’s bowling.

Matt Short proved to be the only top-order batsman to make a significant contribution for the home team with 36 off 26 balls.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner pulled back compatriot Ravindra for 16 before Jordan Cox gave the Fire some late momentum.

Cox’s knock of 33 off 16 balls included three consecutive sixes off Santner, but the left-arm spinner accounted for his wicket from the next delivery to finish with figures of 3-35.