Image: Southern Brave's victory in the match against Welsh Fire / © ESPNcricinfo
On a cool evening at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, August 20, 2025, Southern Brave (Women) clashed with Welsh Fire (Women) in a nail-biting 100-ball match of The Hundred and the Brave, riding high with an unbeaten record of six wins. They won the toss and chose to field, putting the pressure on a Welsh Fire side that had yet to taste victory in five matches. The Fire’s batting effort, aiming to set a challenging total, was stifled by Southern Brave’s relentless bowlers, who held them to 111 for 6. Chasing 112, the Brave faced a spirited fight from the Fire’s bowlers, led by Jess Jonassen, in a chase that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final ball.
Welsh Fire’s innings kicked off with a jolt. Hayley Matthews, their dynamic opener, walked out with intent but was sent back for a duck on the first ball, trapped lbw by Sophie Devine’s pinpoint delivery. The early wicket left the Fire reeling at 0 for 1, and captain Tammy Beaumont joined Sophia Dunkley to steady the ship. The Brave’s bowlers, spearheaded by Lauren Bell, were in no mood to let up, bowling tight lines and keeping the runs in check. Beaumont, tasked with anchoring the innings, scratched around for 7 runs off 9 balls, managing just one boundary before edging a Bell delivery to Maia Bouchier at slip on the 23rd ball. At 32 for 2 after 25 balls, the Fire were struggling to find their rhythm in the powerplay, with Southern Brave’s fielders buzzing around, cutting off boundaries.
Sophia Dunkley, however, showed her class, batting with confidence and flair. She struck five crisp boundaries, scoring 31 runs off 25 balls at a strike rate of 124.00, offering a ray of hope for the Fire. Her clean hitting kept the scoreboard moving, but her innings was cut short in the 43rd ball when she miscued a shot off Tilly Corteen-Coleman and was caught by wicketkeeper Rhianna Southby. The Fire slumped to 49 for 3, and the Brave tightened their grip, with their bowlers giving little away, and Georgia Elwiss, walking in at No. 4, took on the task of rebuilding. She played with calm assurance, remaining not out on 36 off 36 balls, stroking four boundaries at a strike rate of 100.00. Her steady knock anchored the middle overs, giving the Fire a platform to build on.
Jess Jonassen joined Elwiss, and the pair stitched together a vital 33-run stand, pushing the Fire past 50 and providing some stability and Jonassen chipped in with 11 runs off 14 balls, but her stay ended in the 76th ball when she was caught by Laura Wolvaardt off Devine’s bowling. The Fire were 82 for 4, needing a late surge to post a competitive total. Sarah Bryce, the wicketkeeper-batter, added a quick 11 off 11 balls, including one boundary, but fell in the 93rd ball, bowled by a swinging delivery from Bell. The Fire’s hopes of a big finish faded further when Katie George, trying to up the tempo, managed just 1 run off 2 balls before being stumped off Chloe Tryon’s bowling in the 96th ball. Georgia Davis, unbeaten on 0 off 2 balls, couldn’t add to the score, and the Fire limped to 111 for 6 after their 100 balls. Extras played a part, contributing 14 runs (5 byes, 2 leg byes, 7 wides), which gave the total a slight boost.
Southern Brave’s bowlers were disciplined and ruthless. Lauren Bell was outstanding, taking 2 wickets for 21 runs in her 20 balls, with an economy of 1.05 runs per ball. Sophie Devine matched her with 2 wickets for 23 runs, keeping the batters guessing with her pace and movement. Tilly Corteen-Coleman chipped in with 1 wicket for 22 runs, while Chloe Tryon was miserly, conceding just 6 runs for her wicket in 5 balls. Mady Villiers and Georgia Adams bowled tidy spells, giving away 18 and 14 runs respectively, ensuring the Fire couldn’t break free. The Brave’s sharp fielding and clever bowling changes stifled any chance of big partnerships, setting up a chase of 112 runs.
Southern Brave’s chase of 112 began with confidence, as openers Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge took to the crease with purpose. Bouchier played with flair, smashing four boundaries and a six to score 35 off 30 balls at a strike rate of 116.66, and Wyatt-Hodge was equally aggressive, stroking three boundaries for 18 off 14 balls at 128.57. Their 48-run stand in 38 balls gave the Brave a flying start, reaching 50 in 40 balls during the powerplay. But Welsh Fire hit back when Georgia Davis struck in the 38th ball, with Wyatt-Hodge caught by Jess Jonassen, breaking the opening partnership.
The Fire’s fightback gained momentum when Jonassen, their star bowler, removed Bouchier in the 47th ball, bowling her for 35. The Brave were 56 for 2, and the pressure mounted when Laura Wolvaardt, batting at No. 3, fell for just 3 off 4 balls, caught by Davis off Jonassen in the 50th ball. At 57 for 3, the chase was wobbling, and Jonassen’s spin was proving deadly. Sophie Devine, later named Player of the Match, brought calm to the crease, scoring a composed 25 off 21 balls with a boundary and a six at a strike rate of 87. 119.04. She found an able partner in Freya Kemp, who smashed a six and scored 17 off 15 balls, guiding the Brave to 98 with a 41-run partnership.
Just when the Brave seemed to be in control, Jonassen struck twice in quick succession. In the 82nd ball, Kemp was caught by Shabnim Ismail, and two balls later, Chloe Tryon fell for a duck, caught by Tammy Beaumont. The Brave were 98 for 5, and the game tilted toward the Fire. Devine’s departure in the 88th ball, caught by Freya Davies off Hayley Matthews, left the Brave at 101 for 6, needing 11 runs off the last 12 balls. The tension was electric as the Fire sensed a chance to pull off a stunning upset.
Georgia Adams, the Brave captain, stood firm, scoring an unbeaten 7 off 7 balls at a strike rate of 100.00. Mady Villiers added 4 off 5 balls but was run out in the 96th ball, thanks to sharp fielding by Davis and wicketkeeper Sarah Bryce and With 5 runs needed off the final 4 balls, Rhianna Southby, unbeaten on 1 off 1 ball, and Adams held their nerve. The Brave crossed the line at 112 for 7 in 99 balls, clinching a dramatic 3-wicket win with just 1 ball to spare.
Jess Jonassen was the Fire’s hero with the ball, delivering a breathtaking spell of 4 wickets for 10 runs in 20 balls, with an economy of 0.50 runs per ball. Her scalps included Bouchier, Wolvaardt, Kemp, and Tryon, nearly stealing the game for the Fire. Hayley Matthews took 1 wicket for 17 runs in 20 balls, and Georgia Davis claimed 1 for 13 in 10 balls. Shabnim Ismail was tight, conceding 16 runs in 20 balls, while Freya Davies was expensive, leaking 32 runs in 14 balls and Katie Levick gave away 23 runs in 15 balls without a wicket. The Fire’s bowlers, with just 2 extras (1 leg bye, 1 wide), kept the game tight, but the Brave’s depth and cool heads, led by Devine and Adams, saw them through.
Lauren Bell’s spell was the game’s defining moment, earning her the TCNI’s Magic Moment. In a match where every run mattered, Bell bowled with precision, conceding just 21 runs in her 20 balls at an economy of 1.05 runs per ball. She took 2 crucial wickets, dismissing Tammy Beaumont and Sarah Bryce, breaking the Fire’s batting at key moments.
Her nine dot balls kept the batters on a leash, and her ability to swing the ball made life tough for the Fire. Beaumont’s early exit for 7 set the tone, and Bryce’s dismissal for 11 late in the innings ensured the Fire stayed under. 112. Bell’s skill and composure under pressure were pivotal in keeping the target within reach for the Brave.
Jess Jonassen was the standout performer, earning TCNI’s Hero of the Day for her sensational bowling. Defending a modest 112, Jonassen bowled a spell for the ages, taking 4 wickets for just 10 runs in her 20 balls, with an economy of 0.50 runs per ball. Her 10 dot balls choked the Brave’s batters, and her dismissals of Maia Bouchier, Laura Wolvaardt, Freya Kemp, and Chloe Tryon turned the game on its head.
Jonassen’s clever variations and tight lines had the Brave in knots, nearly pulling off a miraculous win for the Fire. Her performance was a reminder of her class, making her the heart and soul of Welsh Fire’s fightback in a thrilling contest.