Introduction
The Hundred Men’s competition heads to the Home of Cricket for a Friday night blockbuster as London Spirit Men welcome the Trent Rockets Men on 14 August 2025 at Lord’s, London. With the Rockets flying high at the top of the table and London Spirit languishing mid‑table, this clash will have a big impact on the race for the knockout stages. Lord’s has been a happy hunting ground for batters in recent years and a packed crowd will hope for another high‑scoring thriller.
London Spirit Men: searching for momentum
London Spirit’s campaign has been stop‑start so far. They opened with a six‑wicket defeat to the Oval Invincibles and were beaten again by Manchester Originals before breaking their duck with a tense eight‑run win over Welsh Fire. However, their most recent outing saw them fall short against the Originals, leaving them with one win and two defeats.
Despite the indifferent results, there have been bright spots. David Warner has been in vintage form, hammering 150 runs in three matches at a staggering average of 75.0 and strike rate 141.5. He has provided the early momentum Spirit needed, while Keaton Jennings has chipped in with 147 runs from seven innings. The middle order, however, has been inconsistent, and they need bigger contributions from Jamie Smith and Dan Lawrence.
With the ball, Spirit’s attack has lacked penetration. Left‑arm spinner Liam Dawson remains their most reliable bowler with 10 wickets at 6.72 runs per over. Pacer Olly Stone has nine wickets but has been slightly expensive at 7.43 an over. London will be keen for Aussie seamer Daniel Worrall and all‑rounder Ryan Higgins to hit their straps at Lord’s. Home support should spur them on, but they cannot afford another sluggish start.
Trent Rockets Men: unbeaten and brimming with confidence
Trent Rockets come into this match as one of only two unbeaten sides this season. They edged Northern Superchargers by five wickets and then comfortably chased down Birmingham Phoenix to make it two wins from two. The Rockets sit second on the points table with eight points and a healthy net run rate.
Batting has been their strength. Tom Banton has rediscovered his touch, amassing 291 runs in ten innings with a strike rate approaching 148. Veteran Joe Root adds stability with 138 runs at 17.25, while overseas star Colin Munro (not shown on the stats page) and all‑rounder Samit Patel provide fireworks at the death. The Rockets’ batting depth means they are rarely out of a contest.
Their bowling attack has also fired. Seamer Sam Cook has been a wicket‑taker with 11 wickets in ten matches. Express pacer Lockie Ferguson, fresh from international duty, has made an immediate impact with four wickets in his first two outings at just 5.7 runs per over. Support from Luke Wood and spin option Matt Carter gives captain Lewis Gregory plenty of variety.
Pitch and conditions at Lord’s
Lord’s has transformed from the sluggish pitch of early seasons into a venue where totals regularly exceed 170. Recent statistics show the average first‑innings score increasing from around 95 in 2022 to 176 in 2025, with spinners enjoying slightly better averages (around 18.8 per wicket) than seamers (26.3 per wicket) as the dry surface grips. The slope can aid seam movement early on, but once set, batters can score quickly; teams batting second have won nearly 77 percent of matches in recent editions, so captains often prefer to chase.
Friday’s forecast for London is warm and dry, so another high‑scoring game is likely. Expect both sides to target the short straight boundaries and push totals towards the 160–180 range.
Prediction and Dream11 fantasy team
Form and momentum make Trent Rockets slight favourites. They have the batting depth and in‑form bowling to exploit Lord’s conditions, whereas Spirit’s reliance on David Warner is a concern. Playing at home gives London Spirit a chance, but they must bowl smarter and find contributions down the order to upset the Rockets. Our prediction: Trent Rockets to win.
Dream11 fantasy picks:
- Wicketkeeper: *Keaton Jennings* (Spirit)
- Batters: *David Warner* (Spirit), *Tom Banton* (Rockets, captain), *Joe Root* (Rockets), *Dan Lawrence* (Spirit)
- All‑rounders: *Liam Dawson* (Spirit, vice‑captain), *Samit Patel* (Rockets)
- Bowlers: *Sam Cook* (Rockets), *Lockie Ferguson* (Rockets), *Olly Stone* (Spirit), *Luke Wood* (Rockets)
This combination balances power hitters with steady accumulators and selects wicket‑takers from both sides. Make sure to check the playing XIs at the toss to finalise your picks.
Final word
Friday’s clash at Lord’s brings together two sides with contrasting fortunes. London Spirit need a victory to stay in playoff contention, while the unbeaten Rockets want to consolidate their place at the top. With star names on show and the iconic ground set to host a full house, this encounter promises fireworks. Follow our site for live updates, more match previews and the best fantasy tips throughout The Hundred 2025.
