SOUTHAMPTON — Southern Brave held their nerve in a tense finale to defeat Welsh Fire by four runs at the Ageas Bowl, a victory that secured them a fourth-place finish in The Hundred group stage.
In a match where momentum swung back and forth, a blistering half-century from Brave’s Leus du Plooy and a disciplined bowling performance at the death proved decisive, ultimately denying Fire a chance to leapfrog their opponents in the final standings.
The result means Brave end their campaign with four wins from eight games, while Fire’s hopes of a top-three finish and a place at Lord’s were extinguished, leaving them in fifth with three wins.
Du Plooy's Power Lifts Brave to Competitive Total
Asked to bat first, Southern Brave’s innings was built around the explosive batting of South African left-hander Leus du Plooy. Coming in at number three, du Plooy took charge after the early loss of Finn Allen, unleashing a devastating assault on the Fire bowling attack.
He smashed 53 runs from just 31 deliveries, an innings punctuated by five fours and three towering sixes. His partnership with James Vince, who contributed a steady 32, provided the crucial backbone for the Brave total.
Vince praised his teammate's composure post-match, stating, "Leus was brilliant today. He took the pressure off everyone else and played the situation perfectly. That knock was the difference."
Despite du Plooy’s heroics, Welsh Fire fought back admirably in the latter stages of the innings. The spin of Glenn Phillips and the pace of David Payne applied the brakes, with Payne particularly effective, claiming two key wickets for just 20 runs from his 20 balls.
The Brave lower order struggled to maintain the explosive tempo, and the home side finished their 100 balls on 137 for 6, a competitive but certainly not impregnable target.
Fire's Chase Falters at the Final Hurdle
In response, Welsh Fire’s chase was a story of two halves. Openers Tom Banton and Stephen Eskinazi started cautiously, carefully navigating the powerplay without taking significant risks against the new ball.
The innings gained momentum through the middle phase, largely thanks to a fluent 44 from England’s Joe Clarke. He looked in complete control, finding the boundary with regularity and keeping the required rate within reach.
However, the Brave bowlers never let the game slip entirely from their grasp. Key contributions came from across the attack:
- Craig Overton was economical, taking 1 for 24 from his 20 balls.
- George Garton provided a crucial breakthrough, dismissing the dangerous Glenn Phillips.
- Rehan Ahmed’s leg-spin proved tricky, conceding just 21 runs from his 15 deliveries.
The match reached a nail-biting climax in the final set of five balls, with Fire needing 12 runs to win. The responsibility fell on the experienced duo of David Willey and Matthew Critchley.
But it was Brave’s Chris Jordan who held his nerve under immense pressure. Bowling the decisive final five deliveries, Jordan executed his yorkers and slower balls to perfection, conceding only seven runs and sealing a dramatic four-run victory for the home side.
A dejected David Willey could only reflect on what might have been: "It's a tough one to take. We were right in it until the very end. Credit to CJ, he bowled a fantastic last set and we just couldn't get over the line."
What This Result Means for the Table
This victory was about more than just local bragging rights; it had significant implications for the final Hundred standings. By securing fourth place, Southern Brave finish their season on a high, building positive momentum for next year’s competition.
For Welsh Fire, the defeat is a crushing blow that ends their tournament. Needing a win to have any chance of overtaking Birmingham Phoenix for the third and final playoff spot, their campaign concludes in fifth place.
The final top of the table sees Oval Invincibles and Manchester Originals secure direct passage to the final at Lord's, with Birmingham Phoenix set to face the loser of that match in the Eliminator.
Looking Ahead
While both teams now look towards the next domestic season, the match served as a perfect advertisement for the drama and excitement of The Hundred. For Southern Brave, the victory provides a satisfying conclusion to a mixed campaign.
Captain James Vince summed up the team's feelings, saying, "It was important for us to finish strongly in front of our home crowd. We showed great character to defend that total. It gives us a lot to build on for next year."
Though they fell just short of the playoff places, the Brave have demonstrated they possess the firepower and tactical nous to compete with the best, setting the stage for an intriguing 2024 edition of The Hundred.