Southampton: Welsh Fire men’s team secure six-wicket victory over Southern Brave
Welsh Fire Men’s Team Triumphs in Season Opener
The Welsh Fire men’s team commenced their 2026 Hundred season with a six-wicket win against Southern Brave in Southampton. Captain Phil Salt played a pivotal role, guiding his team to victory with an unbeaten 47 runs from 37 balls. This performance helped the Fire successfully chase down the Brave’s total of 135-7, reaching 138-4 with two balls remaining.
Salt, who is the Hundred’s all-time leading scorer with 1,138 runs over five seasons with his former team Manchester Originals, has taken on the captaincy for the Fire this year. His objective is to lead the Welsh franchise to their first-ever title, following their last-place finish in both the men’s and women’s tables last season.
During the chase of 136 runs, Salt initially supported fellow opener Matt Short, who contributed a quick 20 runs. Salt then maintained the momentum through partnerships with Joe Root, who scored 14 runs, and Rachin Ravindra, who added 24 runs. The match concluded dramatically when Asa Tribe hit a four off Brave captain Chris Jordan’s first ball, leaving nine runs needed from five balls, before Salt sealed the win with a six two balls later.
Southern Brave’s Innings and Bowling Efforts
Batting first, the Southern Brave faced early setbacks, losing openers Jamie Smith and Ben McKinney for single-digit scores. However, 18-year-old Thomas Rew helped stabilise the innings with a rapid 41 runs from 30 balls. David Miller also played a significant role, finishing strongly with 44 runs from 35 balls, despite a slow start, lifting the Brave to a total of 135-7.
The Welsh Fire bowlers were effective in restricting the Brave’s scoring. Marco Jansen was a standout performer, taking 2 wickets for just 17 runs. Australian allrounder Nikhil Chaudhary also contributed with 2 wickets for 19 runs from 15 balls. Matt Short, in addition to his batting, delivered a miserly bowling spell, taking 1 wicket for 5 runs from 10 balls.
Despite the efforts of England bowlers Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid, who conceded a combined 40 runs from 40 balls without taking wickets, the Brave’s total proved insufficient against the Fire’s chase. Chaudhary also chipped in with 19 runs from 12 balls, including three fours.
Women’s Match Sees Southern Brave Victorious
In the women’s competition, Southern Brave secured an eight-run victory over Welsh Fire. Sophie Molineux, the Australia T20 World Cup-winning captain, led the Brave and was named player of the match. The Brave built their total around South Africa star Laura Wolvaardt’s unbeaten 45 runs from 36 balls, with Lizelle Lee adding 31 runs.
The Welsh Fire were in a strong position during their chase, reaching 1-80 from 58 balls while pursuing the Brave’s score of 126. However, a direct hit from Jemimah Rodrigues to run out Freya Kemp for 39 runs provided an opening for the Brave. Georgia Voll was then dismissed for 52 runs, leading to a rapid fall of wickets.
Molineux herself contributed with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 14 runs from 20 balls. Lauren Bell and Tilly Corteen-Coleman each claimed 2 wickets, ensuring the Fire finished on 8-118. Despite Heather Graham’s four-wicket haul for the Fire, the Brave’s bowling attack proved too strong. The next matches in the competition will see London Spirit take on Manchester Super Giants at Lord’s on Thursday, with the women’s game starting at 14:45 BST and the men’s at 18:30 BST.
Source: bbc.com
