Southern Brave fall to final-ball defeat in tense thriller
Southern Brave Women’s immaculate five-game winning streak came to an end in the most dramatic fashion at Sophia Gardens, as a resilient Welsh Fire side held their nerve to seal a four-wicket victory off the final delivery of the match.
Despite falling just short of making it six wins on the bounce, the table-topping Brave showed immense character and fight to defend a modest target of 122 on a challenging surface, taking the contest down to the absolute wire.
Until the last 15 deliveries, it looked like it was to be rinse and repeat for the visitors, putting up what seemed a below-par total before unleashing their formidable bowling attack to squeeze the opposition to defeat - but brilliant cameos from Heather Graham and Niamh Holland at the death saw Fire triumph in an absolute thriller to keep their hopes alive.
After opting to bat first, Southern Brave found run-scoring tough against a disciplined Fire attack but Laura Wolvaardt and Jemimah Rodrigues rebuilt in uncharacteristically pedestrian style. Batting was not easy on a turning pitch, and the Brave stumbled to 121-5, Welsh Fire seemingly on top but aware of Brave’s bowling threat.
Georgia Voll went past Sophia Dunkley to become the 2026 competition’s leading run-scorer but departed for 11 to Tilly Corteen-Coleman’s second ball, with the young spinner having Ella McCaughan stumped from her fifth. And when the economical Issy Wong hit Devine’s replacement Orla Prendergast’s stumps, Brave were squeezing the opposition in habitual style.
A Lauren Bell slower ball deceived Wareham to leave Fire in real trouble, needing 52 off 38 but an unexpected six-four combo from debutant Grace Thompson, in for Em Arlott, put the cat amongst the pigeons. She was then caught, and it looked like the nous and skills of Molineux and Bell would see Brave home.
But that was to reckon without another young talent in Holland. She swept and drove boundaries to leave three runs needed off two, then Lee should have run Graham out but dropped the ball to leave a single needed off the last ball. And Graham gleefully hit Bell through the infield to spark the celebrations.
Southern Brave remain firmly in control at the top of the standings and will look to bounce back stronger when they take on Manchester Super Giants on August 08 at the Utilita Bowl.
