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Southern Braves captain Sophie Molyneux starred as she took three wickets to lead her side to a thrilling eight-run win over Welsh Fire Women at The Hundred on Wednesday.
The 2025 Hundred finalists set a target of 127 for a first-innings win at The Utilita Bowl, Laura Olvard starred with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 45 off 36 deliveries, while the Fire’s Heather Graham returned impressive figures of 4-19.
The Welsh then took control of the fire, thanks to a brilliant innings from Georgia Voll, who made 52 off 39 deliveries, to put the pressure back on the hosts.
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The Welsh Fire took control of the match, before Jemima Rodriguez sent Freya Kemp out with a direct hit.
Freya Kemp then added to the Braves’ woes, adding another 39 runs before being dismissed by a sensational direct hit from Jemimah Rodriguez.
Despite Rodriguez’s bright moments, the Braves were on the wrong side of the field, throwing seven catches, including a Georgia volley.
“Hopefully we are out early,” Molineux, who scored 22 off 16 balls in the first innings, told Sky Sports. “It happens. It’s not a technical thing. It’s just getting back into the swing of things.
“I’m sure we’ll be on top of it and it’s definitely not going to let us down.”
At 80-2, with 41 balls to spare, the Welsh Fire were in control, but Molyneux, along with England’s Lauren Bell, inspired his side to restrict the Fire to 118 for eight at the end of their innings.
Georgia Voll starred with the bat for the Welsh Firewomen, scoring 52 runs off 39 deliveries
Asked what he told his team when the Fire began to take command, Molyneux said: “It was just to hang in there. They were batting really well. They were really tough, but we knew there was potential.
“Maybe we had to hold our nerve as long as we could there. They batted really well. I thought Sarah Glenn had a really good spell, but it was really good for Tillie Curtin-Coleman to come on.”
Molyneux, who had already taken the wicket of Ella McCaughan, then dismissed Sophie Devine, forcing the New Zealand batter to play an outside shot, but instead clipped it to Liesel Lee behind the stumps.
After that wickets started to fall quickly. Tilly Courtin-Coleman stopped the volley in its tracks, clipping the Australian 18-year-old to Maia Bouchier at long on.
Three deliveries later, EC Wang caught Georgia Warham off Lauren Bell, before England fast bowler M Arlot took his second of the match over the stumps, leaving the Fire needing 16 off 11 deliveries.
But it was too late, Molineux snaring Niamh Holland before Curtin-Coleman bowled Heather Graham to put their innings on 118.
Bell is stumped by his side’s performance
Lauren Bell praised his side for their resilience in battling the Welsh fire
England fast bowler Bell said that the dismissal of Devine was a crucial moment of the match.
“I actually can’t believe we’re back in the game,” Bell said.
“Once we got one wicket, we got another wicket and then finished and showed our class.
“Obviously some nerves went out in the first game of the competition,” he added, talking about the dropped catches. “We’ll put it behind us and we’ll move on, but we ended up being clutch.
“Once we got the breakthrough and Devine got going, we knew we were in the game. We had the end of the ball and slowed down the Georgia volley. We knew we just needed one wicket and we got back into it.
“We haven’t been together for long, but a win like this gives us a lot of confidence. It’s really important to get the first win to start the tournament cricket quickly.”
What next?
Thursday’s Hundred double header comes from London’s Lord’s as London Spirit take on Manchester Supergiants.. The women’s game will start at 2.45 pm, while the men’s match will start at 6.30 pm. Watch both fixtures live on Sky Sports and YouTube. Watch The Hundred and more now contract-free
