Introduction
The Hundred Women’s competition moves to London on 14 Aug 2025 as the London Spirit Women welcome the Trent Rockets Women to Lord’s. The hosts are flying high at the top of the table after three wins from three matches, while the Rockets have yet to register a victory. With a packed Friday crowd expected at the Home of Cricket and both sides boasting some of the tournament’s biggest names, this Group match should provide a fine spectacle.
London Spirit Women: riding the wave
After finishing mid‑table last season, London Spirit Women have burst out of the blocks in 2025. They edged Oval Invincibles by 17 runs in their opener, defended 124 to beat Welsh Fire by two runs and chased down Manchester Originals with three wickets and one ball to spare. Those nail‑biting wins underline Spirit’s ability to perform under pressure. Their success has been built around a potent mix of big hitting and wicket‑taking.
Grace Harris has been the undoubted star. The Australian power‑hitter has amassed 157 runs at a strike rate over 178, clubbing nine sixes. She also bowls valuable overs and holds an economy rate under eight. Around her, newcomers Kira Chathli (72 runs, strike rate 124) and Tara Norris have stepped up. Norris has taken early wickets and kept runs down.
Bowling has been Spirit’s strength. Spearheaded by Issy Wong and Sarah Glenn, they have consistently struck inside the powerplay and squeezed teams in the middle overs. Wong’s extra pace accounted for two Oval Invincibles batters for 26 at Lord’s and she has three wickets at an economy of 6.9 this season. Charlotte Dean’s clever off‑spin and Deepti Sharma’s all‑round contributions give skipper Dean plenty of options.
Trent Rockets Women: searching for a spark
Trent Rockets’ campaign has been the mirror opposite. They sit seventh after losing to Northern Superchargers and Southern Brave in their opening fixtures. Their bowling has been toothless: half their bowlers are yet to take a wicket and three are conceding over ten runs per set. Experienced overseas all‑rounder Ash Gardner has struggled, averaging 53 with the ball and yet to impose herself with the bat.
There are bright spots. England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt tops their run‑scoring charts with 79 runs at a strike rate of 143. She remains their biggest weapon – a world‑class middle‑order batter who can change the game in a handful of balls. Heather Graham brings experience and has 291 runs and 19 wickets in the Hundred overall. Youngsters such as Grace Scrivens and Alexa Stonehouse have shown promise but need support from senior players.
The Rockets’ head‑to‑head record against Spirit is strong – they’ve won all four previous meetings. However, their current form and misfiring bowling attack suggest they are up against it at Lord’s.
Pitch and conditions at Lord’s
Lorin the Hundred. Across 2022–25 the average first‑innings score has risen year on year – from 95.5 in 2022 to 125.5 in 2023, 127.4 in 2024 and a bumper 176.0 this season. Fast bowlers average 22.7 with an economy of 7.74, while spinners fare slightly better at 20.56 and 7.11. Interestingly, teams batting second have won 77 % of matches, suggesting captains should chase. Wickets fall evenly across the powerplay, middle and death overs, with spinners becoming more effective as the game progresses. The weather forecast for London on 14 August is warm with a slight chance of showers, so conditions should be fair for cricket.
At Lord’s the surface typically has true bounce and encourages stroke‑play. The slope can aid seam movement early, but as the pitch dries out it becomes good for batting. Expect totals in the 150–170 range to be competitive.
Prediction and fantasy team
Form and momentum point overwhelmingly towards London Spirit. Their top order is firing and their bowling unit is balanced and incisive. Trent Rockets will hope that Sciver‑Brunt and Gardner produce something special but their attack lacks penetration. The head‑to‑head record may give Rockets hope, yet recent form suggests the Spirit are well placed to end that streak. Our prediction: London Spirit Women to win.
Dream11 fantasy picks
A sample fantasy XI for Dream11 contests could be:
- Wicketkeeper: Georgia Redmayne (Spirit)
- Batters: Grace Harris (Spirit, captain), Kira Chathli (Spirit), Nat Sciver‑Brunt (Rockets), Bryony Smith (Rockets)
- All-rounders: Deepti Sharma (Spirit, vice‑captain), Ash Gardner (Rockets), Heather Graham (Rockets)
- Bowlers: Issy Wong (Spirit), Sarah Glenn (Spirit), Alana King (Rockets), Tara Norris (Spirit)
Harris is the standout captaincy choice thanks to her explosive batting and bowling, while Sharma’s all‑round prowess makes her a solid vice‑captain. Wong and Glenn offer wicket‑taking potential, and King’s leg‑spin could take advantage of the slope.
Final word
London Spirit Women have made a perfect start to the 2025 Hundred campaign. With the support of a home crowd at Lord’s and a squad brimming with confidence, they will be favourites to extend their winning run. For Trent Rockets, avoiding a third straight defeat will require a dramatic uplift with both bat and ball. Fans can look forward to an entertaining clash between two talented squads. Be sure to check our site for live updates, more match previews and fantasy tips throughout the tournament.
d’s Cricket Ground has produced varied surfaces
