London Spirit pulled off a dramatic last-ball victory over Welsh Fire in Cardiff to extend their perfect start to The Hundred 2025.
In a tense clash, the Spirit held their nerve in the final moments to secure a thrilling win and maintain their 100% record in the competition.
Match Analysis
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% 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 73-1 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 half-way 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 Meerkat Match Hero – knitted together what was a strange innings, with wickets falling in clusters. Leg-spinner Katie Levick took two in two and recorded figures of 3-26.
Levick and her fellow bowlers would have thought they may have done enough, but while Welsh 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.
Meerkat Match Hero Charli Knott said: “I was definitely a little bit nervous out on the boundary there at the end. I think we knew we were in the game, Gracie pulled off a great over, and we’re very excited to get the win there.
“It was a little bit tough when I started my innings. I tried to just get into my innings and hit the sweepers hard, and then I was able to cash in a little bit at the end. I think the wicket just held up a little bit, and we got caught out playing across the line a little bit so the gameplan was to hit the sweepers hard and it paid off for me in the end.
“I think in close games like that everyone just has to try and stay nice and level. I think we knew we were in the game from the start, it wasn’t a road by any means, so everyone was on their toes hunting from the get-go, which was great to see. To pull off a win like that, everyone will be in high spirits, so we’ll take the momentum for sure and hopefully keep rolling through.”
Match Summary
Welsh Fire (Women) vs London Spirit (Women), Match 6
Welsh Fire (Women) 122/5 (100 balls)
London Spirit (Women) 124/10 (99 balls)
London Spirit (Women) won by 2 runs
SCORECARD
Partnership
Well, who predicted that 15 minutes ago? ??
London Spirit beat Welsh Fire in a last-ball thriller! ??#TheHundred https://t.co/XTimjTC3oV pic.twitter.com/BVi8LTJP5E
— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 9, 2025
Match Stats
London Spirit (Women) Fall of wickets: 1-34 (Kira Chathli – 4.3 ov), 2-35 (Georgia Redmayne – 5.2 ov), 3-35 (Cordelia Griffith – 6.1 ov), 4-35 (Danielle Gibson – 6.2 ov), 5-72 (Grace Harris – 11.2 ov), 6-72 (Issy Wong – 11.4 ov), 7-85 (Charlotte Dean – 14.1 ov), 8-108 (Sarah Glenn – 17.2 ov), 9-121 (Charli Knott – 18.4 ov), 10-124 (Eva Gray – 19.4 ov)
Welsh Fire (Women Fall of wickets: 1-37 (Hayley Matthews – 6.1 ov), 2-73 (Tammy Beaumont – 10.5 ov), 3-101 (Sophia Dunkley – 16.1 ov), 4-121 (Jess Jonassen – 19.3 ov), 5-122 (Georgia Elwiss – 19.5 ov)
Wagon Wheel
Playing XI
Welsh Fire (Women)
London Spirit (Women)
Match Details:
Date: Saturday, August 9, 2025 14:30
Venue: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Toss: London Spirit (Women) elected to bat
Umpires: Anna Harris (England) Jack Shantry (England) Mike Burns (England TV)
Match Referee: Helen Pack (England)
© Cricket World 2025
