[Watch] "It's me or you here" - Jonny Bairstow opens up on his banter with Joe Root during WF vs TR The Hundred 2024 match

England and Welsh Fire opening batter Jonny Bairstow opened up on his hilarious banter with fellow Yorkshireman Joe Root during The Hundred 2024 fixture against the Trent Rockets in Nottingham. The keeper-batter talks about how his banter spurred Root to bowl lower than Lasith Malinga.

Root, who is a fairly regular bowler now in Test cricket, bowled eight deliveries to his fellow countryman during the fixture on Saturday. The keeper-batter hit one boundary in eight deliveries off the ex-Test skipper before perishing to Imad Wasim for 55.

Speaking to Sky Sports during the mid-innings, Bairstow cheekily said Root will be getting some stick for bowling lower like Malinga.

"Yeah, he bottled it, didn't he? He didn't even chuck one up. I said to him before he came on, 'Its me or you here'. Then the next thing is he starts bowling lower than Malinga. I couldn't believe it, so yeah, he'll be getting some stick for that."

Root bagged figures of 20-6-19-1, including the wicket of Fire skipper Tom Abell, whose side made 129/6.

Jonny Bairstow's half-century proves decisive as Welsh Fire prevail by 4 runs.

The veteran opener's 47-ball 55 and Abell's cameo of 33 were vital in the end, as Welsh Fire won by four runs in a thrilling contest. The top three of the Trent Rockets scored promising cameos but failed to get going.

The likes of Joe Root, Rovman Powell, and Rashid Khan also made quick runs but couldn't play long innings. David Payne and Haris Rauf picked two wickets each, while Mason Crane and Luke Wells took one apiece.

It was the second win of the season for Welsh Fire in four matches and they bounced back from a narrow three-wicket loss to the London Spirit. The Rockets, meanwhile, suffered their second consecutive defeat after starting their campaign with two wins. They also sustained a close loss to the Birmingham Phoenix.