Southern Brave Make Winning Start in The Hundred Women’s Competition
Southern Brave staged a thrilling recovery to open their Hundred women’s competition campaign with an eight-run victory over Welsh Fire in Southampton. The match was in the balance after Fire reached 109-3 in their chase of 127, with Georgia Voll in dominant form, scoring 52 off 39 balls. However, a pivotal moment arrived when 18-year-old left-arm spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman dismissed Voll, shifting the momentum in Brave's favor. Fire's innings quickly unraveled, as five wickets fell in a span of just 14 balls and six runs. Lauren Bell and Sophie Molineux then played key roles in sealing the win, with Molineux taking 3-14 and dismissing Sophie Devine.
Brave's batting effort had its struggles too. They scored 126-7 after being sent in to bat first. Wolvaardt remained steadfast with 45 not out, helping stabilize the innings, while Heather Graham’s 4-19 limited Fire's opportunities. Fielding lapses early in the game, including a dropped catch from Voll in the first over, threatened Brave’s position. However, the combination of Wolvaardt’s calm composure and the spinners' late dominance turned the tide in their favor.
Southern Brave, having reached four finals and won the tournament in 2023, are aiming for another strong performance in 2024. Welsh Fire, despite their high investment in the auction—spending a joint-record £210,000 on Sophie Devine—struggled last season, finishing bottom with just one win. The next action will be Thursday at Lord’s, where London Spirit will take on Manchester Super Giants. The women’s match kicks off at 14:45 BST.