In a thrilling clash between the Southern Brave and the Welsh Fire, Luke Wells and Glenn Phillips put on a show that propelled Fire to their highest ever total, only to be denied by the rain which saved Brave’s blushes. The match ended in a no-result with Brave at 21 for 2 chasing a target of 181 set by Fire.
Southern Brave managed to secure their place in the Hundred Eliminator at the Kia Oval on Saturday, thanks to the rain intervening and stopping the game at Utilita Bowl. The Brave needed just a point to guarantee their spot in the showdown, but with Fire posting a challenging total of 181, the outcome was uncertain.
The Brave faced early setbacks with two quick wickets falling, including Alex Davies going for a duck and James Vince departing after scoring 19 runs. However, just as Vince was dismissed, the rain started falling steadily, leading to the umpires taking the players off the field.
Despite hopes of a resumption, the rain persisted, and with only 16 balls bowled in the Brave’s innings (25 balls needed for a result), the match had to be abandoned. Vince reflected on the match, acknowledging the challenge of chasing down the Fire’s total and praising the bowlers for their efforts throughout the tournament.
For the Fire, it was a bitter moment as they had posted a formidable score with Wells and Phillips leading the charge. Wells notched up his second fifty in the competition, reaching the milestone in just 28 balls. Phillips, on the other hand, was sensational, smashing five sixes in his knock, including a mammoth 102-meter hit over square-leg off Jofra Archer.
The fireworks continued as a total of 10 sixes were struck by Fire in their innings, marking a dominant batting performance. Despite the disappointment of the rain playing spoilsport, the spectacle provided by Wells and Phillips will be remembered as a standout moment in the clash between Fire and Brave.
