Southern Brave secure victory over Welsh Fire in Women’s Hundred

By Bilal Ahmed — 22 July 2026 — 3 min read

Southern Brave triumph at Rose Bowl

The Southern Brave secured an eight-run victory against Welsh Fire in the English Women’s Hundred competition. The match, held at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, saw the Brave successfully defend their total of 126 runs. This win marks a significant moment for the team, who were tournament winners in 2023 and semi-finalists last year.

Sophie Molineux, the Australian T20 World Cup-winning captain and new Brave skipper, played a pivotal role in her team’s success. Her performance was highlighted by taking 3-14 from 20 balls, contributing significantly to restricting the Fire’s chase. Molineux’s leadership and bowling were crucial in turning the tide of the game.

Fire’s late collapse seals Brave’s win

The Welsh Fire initially appeared to be in a strong position to chase down the target of 126, reaching 1-80 for 58 balls. However, a late collapse shifted the momentum in favour of the Southern Brave. A crucial moment occurred when Jemimah Rodrigues’ direct hit resulted in the run-out of Freya Kemp for 39 runs, providing the Brave with a much-needed opening.

Following Kemp’s dismissal, Georgia Voll was out for 52, and wickets began to fall rapidly. The combined efforts of Molineux, Lauren Bell, and Tilly Corteen-Coleman, who each took two wickets, ensured that the Fire’s innings concluded at 8-118. Despite a four-wicket haul from Australian team-mate Heather Graham for the Fire, it ultimately proved to be in vain.

Earlier in the match, the Southern Brave built their total around an unbeaten 45 from 36 balls by South Africa star Laura Wolvaardt. Lizelle Lee also made a contribution of 31 runs to the Brave’s score. Molineux herself contributed 22 runs before being stumped. The victory was celebrated by the team in front of their home crowd, with Molineux expressing satisfaction with the team’s ability to recover and secure the win.

Upcoming fixtures in The Hundred

The English Women’s Hundred competition continues with several upcoming matches. On Thursday, a match is scheduled between London Spirit and Manchester Super Giants at Lord’s, set to begin at 18:30. This fixture will be broadcast on BBC Two and Sky Sports Cricket. Both teams are considered strong contenders in the tournament, with the Super Giants featuring a powerful batting line-up including Jos Buttler, Aiden Markram, and Heinrich Klaasen.

Another match is slated for Friday, featuring Birmingham Phoenix against Trent Rockets at Edgbaston, also starting at 18:30 and airing on Sky Sports Cricket. The Birmingham Phoenix will be without their star batsman, Jacob Bethell, for the entire tournament due to a knee injury. Despite this setback, Will Smeed, who averaged close to forty in this summer’s T20 Blast, is expected to be a key player for the Phoenix, having performed well at Edgbaston in previous matches.

Additionally, on Friday, Sunrisers Leeds will face Southern Brave at Headingley, with the match commencing at 14:30 and available on Sky Sports Cricket. This match follows the Brave’s recent victory and will be another test for the team in the ongoing competition.

Source: sportinglife.com