Fire reach Hundred final after win over Brave
Hayley Matthews stars with bat and ball as Welsh Fire reached the final of The Hundred with a nine-wicket win over Southern Brave.
Hayley Matthews starred with bat and ball as Welsh Fire reached the final of The Hundred women’s competition with a nine-wicket win over Southern Brave.
Matthews took 4-14 as Brave were skittled out for just 103, before hitting an unbeaten 35 from 26 balls as Fire won with 26 balls to spare.
Fire skipper Tammy Beaumont top-scored with a blistering unbeaten 59 from 40 balls, including 10 fours.
Brave struggled with the bat, slumping to 15-3 and 47-7, with Australian Jess Jonassen taking 3-21.
Chloe Tryon was the only Brave batter to show any resistance, scoring 55 from 38 balls – more than half of their total.
Oval Invincibles moved level on points with Fire at the top of the table by beating Trent Rockets in Wednesday’s late game, but Fire progress to the final courtesy of their superior net run-rate.
Invincibles will instead face London Spirit in Saturday’s Eliminator, with the winner playing Fire in the final at Lord’s on Sunday.
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What else do you need to know?
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All five of Welsh Fire’s wins this year have come batting second.
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Southern Brave reached the final in each of the first three editions of the Hundred, winning in 2023, but will finish this year bottom with just one win from their eight matches.
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Brave lost wickets in clusters, including three for 11 runs in 17 balls at the top of the innings, and three for just two runs in nine balls at the halfway stage.
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Tryon’s half-century was her first in the Hundred, including seven fours and one huge six off the bowling of Jonassen.
‘A complete team performance’ – what they said
Welsh Fire all-rounder and match hero Hayley Matthews: “It has been a complete team performance; everyone has been chipping in and playing their role.
“I think it’s huge [to qualify for next stage]. We have played well this season to put ourselves in a really good position. If you told as at the start of the season we would be in this position we would have bitten your hand off.”
Fire captain Tammy Beaumont: “There was a bit of pressure on us to qualify so I am really, really happy. I haven’t scored many runs this season so I was under pressure to get some.
“The main thing was getting 11 points and getting at least into the eliminator.
“It was probably the first wicket where you could really throw your hands at the ball and trust you can hit through the line. It has been tough going for batters this competition.”
What is happening on Thursday?
The final two matches of the group stage take place as Birmingham Phoenix face Manchester Originals (women at 15:00 BST, men at 18:30).
You can follow ball-by-ball commentary of both matches on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.
