Southern Brave began their Hundred campaign with a remarkable come-from-behind victory, defeating Welsh Fire by eight runs at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton. The match saw a dramatic late collapse from Fire, who appeared to be cruising towards a comfortable win before losing their way in the final stages of their chase.
Chasing Brave's total of 126-7, Welsh Fire were well-placed at 109-3, with opener Georgia Voll anchoring their innings with an unbeaten half-century. However, the introduction of 18-year-old left-arm spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman proved to be the turning point. Corteen-Coleman dismissed the Australian batter for 52, triggering a stunning collapse as Fire lost five wickets for just six runs in a mere 14 balls. Lauren Bell then picked up two crucial wickets in the following set, while captain Sophie Molineux finished with impressive figures of 3-14, including the key wicket of her opposing captain, Sophie Devine, to seal the victory for Brave.
Earlier in the evening, a win for Southern Brave had seemed improbable for extended periods. After being asked to bat first, Brave struggled to build momentum despite a solid start from opener Lizelle Lee, who contributed 30 runs from 26 deliveries. South African international Laura Wolvaardt played a crucial anchor role, guiding her side to 126-7 with an unbeaten 45. However, Heather Graham's excellent bowling performance for Fire, taking 4-19, ensured the home side's innings never truly accelerated.
The Brave's fielding performance also left much to be desired, with a string of dropped catches, including an early opportunity for Voll, adding to the tension. Despite these challenges, the former champions, who have reached four of the five Hundred finals and lifted the trophy in 2023, showcased their resilience to clinch a vital opening win.
Welsh Fire, who finished bottom of the table last season with only one victory, will be looking to regroup quickly after this disappointing start. The team had made significant investments, including a joint-high fee of £210,000 for Sophie Devine in the auction, in an effort to improve their fortunes this season.