Southern Brave hold on to defeat Welsh Fire

Hilton Cartwright's fifty set up a crucial, low-scoring victory for Brave in Cardiff

ECB Media | 20/08/2025 at 18:00

Cardiff: Southern Brave 129-8, Welsh Fire 125-8 - Southern Brave won by four runs

A counter-attacking half century from Hilton Cartwright led Southern Brave to victory over Welsh Fire in a tight game in The Hundred.

Cartwright made an unbeaten 51 to help Brave rally to 129 for 8, before Brave's bowlers closed out with the ball in a topsy-turvy chase.

Electing to bowl first in helpful conditions, Welsh Fire's new-ball pairing of David Payne and Matt Henry were exceptional, bowling 20 of the first 25 deliveries.

Henry in particular was relentless, dismissing Leus du Ploy and Jason Roy on the way to a remarkable return of 2 for 5 from 20 balls - the second-most economical figures in the history of The Hundred.

Brave skipper James Vince dug in, helping his side recover to 53 for 3 at halfway before eventually falling when he pulled a short ball from Chris Green straight down Saif Zaib's throat at deep midwicket for 29.

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^{It was a tight victory for Southern Brave (Dan Istitene/Getty Images)}

Enter Cartwright. The Aussie big-hitter went on the attack immediately, hitting five sixes, mixing power and innovation, as he reached a 19-ball half century, finishing 51 not out as the Brave made 129 for 8.

In the run chase, Jonny Bairstow came out swinging, hitting Craig Overton for two fours and a six in the first set. He then smashed Reece Topley for two fours as Fire raced to 23 for 0 from the first 10 balls before he fell for 22, skying Overton to du Plooy in the ring.

The chase ebbed backwards and forwards and with 20 balls left, Fire needed 27 to win with three wickets in hand and just the tail for company for Tom Kohler-Cadmore.

Five wides from Jordan took some of the pressure off before four were taken from Archer's final five, including Laurie Evans putting down David Payne behind the stumps to leave 16 required off 10.

Kohler-Cadmore (25) then found Cartwright in the deep off Coles, leaving Payne and Matt Henry – Fire's heroes with the ball at the top of the day – to find the crucial 12 runs to take Fire to victory, from final five to be bowled by Jordan.

Jordan, so often the winner with the ball in hand at the death, delivered a fine last five to ensure it was Brave who got over the line.