The Centenary 2025 results: Souths brave to win opener against Welsh Fire

100 Women’s Tournament Utilita Bowl

Southern Braves 126-7 (100 balls): Wolwardt 45* (36); Graham 4-19

Wales Fire 118-8 (100 balls)Volume 52 (39); Molineux 3-14

South Brave won by eight runs

score card. table

Southern Braves put up an impressive start to their centenary campaign with a hard-fought eight-run win over Welsh Fire in Southampton.

The Fire were 109-3 chasing 127 on their way to a comfortable victory, with opener Georgia Volley unbeaten with a good nick and half-century.

But 18-year-old left-arm spinner Tilly Courtin-Coleman dispatched the Australian batsmen for 52 in a stunning collapse as the visitors lost five wickets for six runs and 14 balls.

Lauren Bell then picked up the wickets of Georgia’s Wareham and M Arlot in the following set to guide captain Sophie Molyneux to victory with 3-14, including the wicket of her opposite number Sophie Devin.

After a slow fielding display in which they dropped several miscues, including a volley in Bell’s opening set, a heroics victory looked unlikely for most of the night.

Earlier, Brave, who reached four of the five finals and He won the competition in 2023After being sent in to bat first, he struggled to build on the platform laid by opener Liesel Lee, hitting 30 off 26 deliveries.

South Africa’s Laura Wollwardt made 45 not out but Heather Graham’s 4-19 with the ball ensured the home side finished 126-7.

After finishing bottom of the table with just one win last season, he will be hoping to bounce back quickly with a huge investment in the bid, including a £210,000 joint-high fee for Devin.