Manchester Originals vs Trent Rockets predictions: Hain can continue rich vein of form

- Manchester Originals suffered an eight-wicket defeat to Welsh Fire in their opener
- Sam Hain scored 49 as Trent Rockets beat Northern Superchargers by 47 runs
- Recommended bet: Sam Hain - Over 29.5 - Player Performance

Manchester Originals have made the last two finals of the Men's Hundred but face a tough task to go one better this season, if their opening result is anything to go by, as they suffered an eight-wicket hammering at the hands of Welsh Fire.

Trent Rockets, of course, won the competition in 2022 and started this year as if they were desperate to make up for last season's mid-table finish as they amassed the highest total of the tournament so far on their way to a 47-run win over Northern Superchargers.

Those opening results mean Monday's protagonists are at opposite ends of the table, with the Rockets only second due to their inferior net run rate to the Originals' conquerors, Welsh Fire.

Lewis Gregory's men will be looking to underline their outright credentials further with a second win, while their Old Trafford hosts will be hoping to exorcise some demons.

Team news

Manchester Originals star man Jos Buttler missed the opening defeat to Welsh Fire with a calf problem and is likely to be absent once again on Monday.

In fact, there are doubts regarding whether the England T20 captain will be available to feature at all in this tournament, with Phil Salt set to continue to lead the side.

Chris Green played a starring role in the Rockets' opening win, smashing 25 off just seven balls before taking 3-24 with the ball. However, he was only signed as short-term cover for Rashid Khan and the Afghanistan superstar spinner is set to be in the line-up on Monday.

The stats

Trent Rockets have the advantage in the head-to-head record between the two with three victories to one, winning the first three games between the pair, including the final in 2022.

Despite having only won one of the four previous games, the Originals' sole success came in the most recent meeting last season in a 10-run victory at Old Trafford.

Salt is the leading run-scorer in the history of the Hundred, having racked up 707 runs in 28 innings. The England T20 opener's highest individual innings of 86 was struck in last season's win over Trent Rockets.

However, Salt was out for a duck in the opening defeat against Welsh Fire, with only three of the Originals' line-up able to reach double figures in a meagre total of 86-8.

In a wholly more impressive batting display, Tom Banton clubbed 66 and Sam Hain 49 before Green's quick-fire 25 pushed the Rockets to 185-5 in their opening win over Northern Superchargers.

Prediction

Given the respective opening performances and Buttler's expected absence, it is difficult to argue with Trent Rockets as the 4/6 favourites with LiveScore Bet to win on Monday.

However, for a little more value, siding with a man in form to continue his free-scoring summer looks the way to go.

Sam Hain may have played second fiddle to Banton in the opening win over the Superchargers, but it was yet another excellent innings from the Warwickshire man. He amassed 554 runs at an average of 69.25 in the T20 Blast earlier this summer to lie second in that competition's runscoring charts to Daniel Hughes, who aggregated 560 but from two innings more.

Hain looks tempting at 13/4 with LiveScore Bet to finish as his side's top run scorer, but the safer play is to side with another strong display and support his player performance, which has the added bonus of points for catches as well as removing the potential to be outscored.

Back Sam Hain over 29.5 in the Player Performance market at evens with LiveScore Bet.