Defending champions Southern Brave got their second win of the season on the board in The Hundred last time out but could be out of their depth against the Trent Rockets Thursday.
But while the men's team falters, Brave are excelling in The Hundred Women and will be looking to maintain their 100 per cent start to the campaign in their match with the Rockets earlier in the day.
Seamer Wood can play his part for Trent Rockets
| What | Southern Brave vs Trent Rockets, The Hundred |
| Where | The Rose Bowl, Hampshire |
| When | 19:00, Thursday 25th August |
| How to watch | Sky Sports Main Event / Cricket |
| Odds | Southern Brave 6/5, Trent Rockets 4/6 |
In their most recent contest in The Hundred on Saturday, Trent Rockets became the first team this season to inflict defeat on fellow highflyers London Spirit.
At Trent Bridge in Nottingham, the Rockets prevailed by six wickets, claiming their fifth win in six matches in The Hundred this year.
However, their normally reliable opening duo of Alex Hales and Dawid Malan endured a frustrating evening with Malan having been run out from the first ball of the innings and Hales putting on only six before being caught by Kieron Pollard.
Fortunately for the Rockets, Colin Munro (67) and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (41) stepped up to the plate and their bowlers had earlier ensured their team would not be chasing a mammoth total.
London Spirit were bowled out for only 122 at Trent Bridge and spinner Rashid Khan was the star of the show, claiming 3-25.
Khan put in a fine performance upon his return from international duty but it was only a flying visit from the Afghan bowler, who now returns to his national team ready for the Asia Cup.
But while Khan is an undoubted star at this level, the Rockets have also seen seamer Luke Wood hit a good patch of form in The Hundred this year.
Wood took 2-23 against London Spirit last time out, taking his wickets tally to eight in the franchise competition in 2022.
And with Khan not involved, Wood could be a great bet at 10/3 to be top bowler for Trent Rockets, while the 11/10 on offer for him to take over 1.5 wickets in the match also appeals.
In terms of the match result market, the Rockets are the obvious bet at 4/6.
Brave could yet come good but they have only just recorded their second win of the competition this year and that was against a Welsh Fire team who are in desperately poor form.
Top order key to success for Southern Brave Women
| What | Southern Brave Women vs Trent Rockets Women, The Hundred Women |
| Where | The Rose Bowl, Hampshire |
| When | 15:30, Thursday 25th August |
| How to watch | Sky Sports Mix |
| Odds | Southern Brave Women 4/6, Trent Rockets Women 6/5 |
While Southern Brave look unlikely to make the knockout phase of The Hundred this year, the Southern Brave Women are flying and are only 21/20 to win the tournament.
They have won all four of their matches in The Hundred Women this season, defeating London Spirit, Oval Invincibles, Manchester Originals and Welsh Fire.
As for Trent Rockets Women, they have had a mixed bag of results but have lost two of their last three games, posting totals of only 116 and 112 in those defeats.
Southern Brave represent a value bet at 4/6 in this one and it will likely be their firepower at the crease which should carry them to victory.
Coming into The Hundred Women this year, Danni Wyatt and Sophia Dunkley were not in the best form but they have quashed those concerns and, along with India international Smriti Mandhana, they make up a reliable top three.
The trio have scored 368 runs for Southern Brave Women this year with each of them into three-figure totals in the tournament and another way to bet on this match is to back the hosts to have the highest opening partnership at 4/5.
In their four matches this season, Trent Rockets Women have seen their opening pair put up combined totals of 87, 27, 38 and 20.
Those scores are not terrible but they are also not brilliant and Brave should fancy their chances of starting stronger at the crease.
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