The Welsh Fire collapse from 109-3 to 115-8 as the Southern Brave kickstart their Hundred campaign with an eight-run victory.
The Southern Brave were unbeaten through the group stage last year before losing the final to Northern Superchargers. Under GMR Group’s new ownership, they are once again strong contenders for the trophy. The Welsh Fire, now backed by the Washington Freedom, finished bottom last year and responded with marquee signing Sophie Devine at £210,000 – the joint most expensive in the women’s auction. Both captains are World Cup winners – Sophie Devine with New Zealand in 2024 and Sophie Molineux, recently with Australia, beating England in the final.
Welsh Fire won the toss and, as is common at the Utilita Bowl and in the Hundred, decided to field. However, their opening bowlers were wayward, and the experienced South African Lizelle Lee cashed in.
Heather Graham Impresses
The Brave reached the end of the 25-ball powerplay 30-1 before Lee was dismissed for 31, a good catch by Georgia Voll, who steadied herself well on the boundary rope. The Welsh Fire bowlers did not allow partnerships to develop; Australia’s Heather Graham, who has been in good form with both bat and ball for Durham, was particularly impressive; her first 10 balls giving her figures of 2-7. She would end the innings the pick of the bowlers with her best Hundred figures of 4-19.
At the halfway mark, the Brave were 58-3, and in need of a partnership, captain Sophie Molineux, fresh off the back of leading Australia to World Cup glory, joined Laura Wolvaardt at the crease. Two of the side’s star batters got the Brave out of trouble with a partnership of 37, before Graham was brought back into the attack and broke the partnership. Molineux, looking to accelerate, was stumped for 22, a good piece of glovework from Rhianna Southby.
Wolvaardt continued her impressive knock, with an average of just under 40 in 37 Hundred matches; it is what we have come to expect from the South African captain. Her 45 not out meant the Southern Brave ended on 126-7.
Lauren Bell, the leading wicket-taker in last year’s competition and the Brave’s most expensive player (£140,000), will be key if they want to lift the title for the second time. She should have had a wicket in her first over, but a regulation catch at first slip was shelled by Maia Bouchier.
Fortunately, it didn’t cost much as Molineux disturbed McCaughan’s stumps; the Brave had the early breakthrough.
Freya Kemp Continues Her Breakout Summer
Freya Kemp, off the back of a superb World Cup with England, faced her old side as she strode out to bat at number 3. Having been dropped early on by Jodi Grewcock at Mid-Off, the 21-year-old struggled to 10 off 16 deliveries before, along with her batting partner Georgia Voll, found some boundaries. As the Brave fielding continued to be sloppy, the partnership built very nicely. With 50 balls to go, the Fire were in the ascendancy, requiring 60 runs to win. Voll and Kemp were going along at similar rates for their 62-run partnership.
Needing just over a run a ball for victory, Kemp was run out for 39 by Jemimah Rodrigues, who, having initially misfielded at cover, produced a direct hit to end a 75-run partnership.
That brought Sophie Devine to the crease, whose tactically astute captaincy had played a big part in restricting the Southern Brave batters. Devine didn’t last long; trying to cut a short wide delivery from her opposition captain, she only succeeded in edging behind. For the first time in a while, the momentum was with the home side.
With opener Voll in on 41, with 40 required for 30 deliveries, she was the key wicket for the Brave. She was joined by another Georgia (Wareham), who, just before Voll passed 50, pulled the expensive Issy Wong over square leg for six.
Voll was then dismissed unnecessarily, caught on the long-on boundary when singles were what was required. That led to a collapse, from 109-3, to 115-8, with Lauren Bell and captain Sophie Molineux the architects, the latter rounding off a very impressive performance, finishing with impressive figures of 3-14.
The Southern Brave once again will be tough to beat.
