A counter-attacking half-century from Hilton Cartwright led Southern Brave to victory over Welsh Fire in a tight game in The Hundred.
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Match Analysis
Cartwright made an unbeaten 51 to help Brave rally to 129-8, 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 Leeus du Ploy and Jason Roy on the way to a remarkable return of 2-5 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 53-3 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.
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 129-8.
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 the Fire raced to 23-0 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.
Meerkat Match Hero Hilton Cartwright said: “That was an absolute thriller. It ebbed and flowed that whole second innings. The crowd got a bloody good game tonight.
“When I saw Roy when it was nipping around everywhere, he saw off the new ball for me so I could just go out there and have a crack. I took the game on and it paid off thankfully.
“A couple of guys came into the side and CJ playing off the back of an injury, I thought he bowled beautifully. It was an all-round team effort tonight, I know that’s a cliché, but I thought the bowlers did an outstanding job to defend a small total.”
Match Stats
Southern Brave Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Leus du Plooy – 2.4 ov), 2-18 (Jason Roy – 5.3 ov), 3-39 (James Coles – 8.3 ov), 4-63 (Laurie Evans – 12.1 ov), 5-71 (James Vince – 14.1 ov), 6-94 (Michael Bracewell – 16.2 ov), 7-114 (Chris Jordan – 18.1 ov), 8-126 (Craig Overton – 19.2 ov)
Welsh Fire Fall of wickets: 1-24 (Jonny Bairstow – 2.2 ov), 2-45 (Luke Wells – 4.2 ov), 3-46 (Steven Smith – 4.5 ov), 4-50 (Tom Abell – 6.1 ov), 5-82 (Saif Zaib – 11.4 ov), 6-92 (Paul Walter – 13.5 ov), 7-101 (Chris Green – 15.3 ov), 8-116 (Tom Kohler-Cadmore – 18.2 ov)
Match Summary
Welsh Fire (Men) vs Southern Brave (Men), Match 21
Welsh Fire (Men) 125/8 (100 balls)
Southern Brave (Men) 129/8 (100 balls)
Southern Brave (Men) won by 4 runs
SCORECARD
Another tight finish at Sophia Gardens ??#TheHundred | #RoadToTheEliminator pic.twitter.com/JXifCKgwTN
— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 20, 2025
Playing XI
Welsh Fire
Southern Brave
Match Details
Date – 2025-08-20 14:00:00
Venue – Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Toss – Welsh Fire (Men) elected to bowl
Umpires – Alex Wharf (England), Tom Lungley (England), Graham Lloyd (England TV)
© Cricket World 2025
