The Hundred 2025 results: Southern Brave fightback to win opener against Welsh Fire

One hundred women’s competition, Utilita Bowl

Güney Brave 126-7 (100 balls): Wolvaardt 45* (36); Graham 4-19

Welsh Fire 118-8 (100 guns): Volume 52 (39); Molineux 3-14

Southern Brave won by eight runs

Scorecard. Table

Southern Brave put on a remarkable campaign to start their Hundred campaign with a hard-fought eight-run win over Welsh Fire in Southampton.

The Fire were cruising to a comfortable victory after reaching 109-3 in their chase of 127, with Georgia Voll making a fine half-century in the opener.

But 18-year-old left-arm spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman sent the Australian batsman back for 52, prompting a dramatic collapse as the visitors lost five wickets in just six runs and 14 balls.

Lauren Bell took the wickets of Georgia Wareham and Em Arlott in the next set, while skipper Sophie Molineux finished with 3-14, including the wicket of her opposite number Sophie Devine, to take them to victory.

A Brave victory looked unlikely for much of the evening after a sloppy on-field display in which they dropped a number of catches, including Voll’s in the opening set from Bell.

Previously, the Brave, who have reached four of five finals and won the competition in 2023, had struggled to build on the platform established by opener Lizelle Lee, who bowled 30 of 26 deliveries after being sent to bat first.

South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt anchored their innings with an unbeaten 45, but Heather Graham’s 4-19 with the ball ensured the home side’s innings never really got going and they finished with a score of 126-7.

The Fire, who were bottom of the table with just one win last season, hope to bounce back quickly by making significant investments, including a joint top fee of £210,000 at auction for Devine.