Wasteful Welsh Fire stumble to second defeat

Set 125 by defending champions London Spirit, the hosts were well set on 73 for 1, but failed to get over the line

ECB Media | 09/08/2025 at 17:00

Cardiff: London Spirit 124, Welsh Fire 122-5 - London Spirit won by two runs

London Spirit snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in Cardiff to clinch a last-ball thriller against Welsh Fire in The Hundred and maintain their 100 per cent record at the start of this year's competition.

Having been bowled out for 124, Spirit were staring down the barrel with Welsh Fire well set on 73 for 1 in reply, but the home side stumbled as the finish line approached and ultimately fell short.

With just 24 runs needed from the last 20 balls, and eight wickets in hand, the result seemed a formality, but Sophia Dunkley and Jess Jonassen fell as Spirit inched their way back into the contest, and Grace Harris held her nerve with ball in hand to defend seven runs from the final five balls.

That the visitors were in the game at the halfway mark at all, despite having been bowled out, was predominantly due to Charli Knott, who made 47.

Knott's effort – for which she was awarded player of the match – knitted together what was a strange innings, with wickets falling in clusters. Leg-spinner Katie Levick took two in two and recorded figures of 3 for 26.

Levick and her fellow bowlers would have thought they may have done enough, but while Fire looked favourites for much of the game - with Hayley Matthews and Dunkley classy as ever - they weren't able to get over the line.

It signals a second consecutive defeat for Tammy Beaumont's side, but for Charlie Dean's defending champions, it's top place and two from two.