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Brave fightback against Fire to make winning start
Southern Brave began their Hundred campaign with an eight-run win over Welsh Fire in Southampton, a result that seemed unlikely after Fire's chase gathered pace and Brave's fielders put down several catches. The comeback matters as it kept alive Brave's strong recent record in the competition, having reached four of the last five finals and won the title in 2023, while Fire, who finished bottom last season despite heavy investment in the auction, suffered an early setback in their bid to bounce back.
Batting first, Brave were anchored by an unbeaten 45 from Laura Wolvaardt and a quick 30 from Lizelle Lee, but Heather Graham's 4-19 restricted them to 126-7. Fire looked set to chase down the target after Georgia Voll's 52 took them to 109-3, before 18-year-old spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman triggered a stunning collapse of five wickets for six runs in 14 balls, with further wickets from Lauren Bell and captain Sophie Molineux (3-14) sealing victory for the home side.
In short
- Southern Brave beat Welsh Fire by eight runs in their Hundred opener.
- Fire collapsed from 109-3, losing five wickets for six runs.
- Tilly Corteen-Coleman and Sophie Molineux led Brave's bowling turnaround.
Explained simply
The Hundred is a women's cricket competition featuring eight teams that each play one hundred deliveries, designed for fast-paced, entertaining matches. Southern Brave and Welsh Fire are two teams competing in this season's tournament, each with contrasting recent histories in the competition.
Southern Brave have been one of the competition's most successful teams, winning the title in 2023 and reaching the final in four of the last five seasons. Their strong recent record means that starting well in the current campaign is important for maintaining their status as championship contenders.
Welsh Fire endured a difficult previous season, finishing bottom of the standings despite significant financial investment in new players. This season represents a fresh start for them, and their early performances will be closely watched to see whether the investment in strengthening the squad proves worthwhile.
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