Welsh Fire’s campaign in The Hundred 2026 ended in defeat at Sophia Gardens on 12 August, London Spirit winning by six runs after Marco Jansen was caught on the final ball attempting the six needed to level scores. Chasing 132, Fire had been well placed through a 47-run stand between Joe Root and Jordan Cox before losing quick wickets. David Willey took 3-20, including the decisive final wicket, as Fire finished with four wins from eight matches and missed out on the Eliminator.
Jordan Cox’s 44 from 28 balls had carried Welsh Fire to the brink of victory. Fifteen runs were needed from the final eight balls with six wickets standing. By the time Jansen swung at David Willey’s last delivery, that equation had narrowed to a six needed off one ball — and Jamie Overton at deep midwicket took the catch that ended it.
The margin was six runs. It was also the margin that ended Welsh Fire’s involvement in the tournament, with the club’s net run-rate of -1.001 already having made their route to the knockouts almost impossible before a ball was bowled at Sophia Gardens.
Bairstow gives Spirit early impetus, Jansen and Woakes pull it back
London Spirit batted first and built their total around a rapid start from Jonny Bairstow, who made 34 from 19 balls. James Coles added 29 and Jamie Overton 21, but none of the three could convert their starts into a match-defining score. Marco Jansen finished with 2-16 and Chris Woakes took two wickets as Fire’s bowling attack pegged Spirit back to 131-8 from their 100 balls — a total that would ultimately prove six runs too good.
Root and Cox put Fire in control
Chasing 132, Welsh Fire found their platform through Joe Root and Jordan Cox. The pair added 47 runs together to take the score to 90-2, with Root making a run-a-ball 31 before falling. Cox kept the chase on course, accelerating to 44 from 28 balls and leaving Fire needing just 15 from the last eight deliveries with six wickets in hand — a position from which the match appeared won.
The collapse that cost Fire their campaign
Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Rachin Ravindra were dismissed in quick succession as Fire’s control evaporated in the space of a handful of balls. What had been a routine chase turned into a scramble, and the equation tightened with each wicket. Jansen, last man capable of finishing the job, needed six runs from the final ball to tie the scores. He could not clear Overton at deep midwicket, and Welsh Fire finished on 125-7, six runs short of London Spirit’s total.
A campaign that ends four points short
Welsh Fire’s defeat confirmed a group-phase finish of four wins from eight matches, four points adrift of both Manchester Super Giants in second and Sunrisers Leeds in third. London Spirit, despite the win, ended their own campaign seventh in the table with three wins — the victory arriving too late to affect their own standing but decisive in ending Fire’s hopes.
The picture below Welsh Fire remained live even after the final ball at Sophia Gardens. MI London, fourth in the table, retained a route into the Eliminator at the expense of Sunrisers Leeds, contingent on a significant margin of victory over Birmingham Phoenix in a match played the same day.
What comes next
The men’s and women’s group phase concluded on 12 August, with a rest day on Thursday 13 August before knockouts begin at The Oval on Friday. The women’s Eliminator between Sunrisers Leeds and Southern Brave is scheduled for 14:15 BST, with Manchester Super Giants’ men’s Eliminator to follow from 18:00 against an opponent still to be confirmed. Trent Rockets await both Eliminator winners in the finals at Lord’s on Sunday — fixtures Welsh Fire, for another year, will watch from outside the knockout picture.
Scores: London Spirit 131-8 (100 balls); Welsh Fire 125-7 (100 balls)
Result: London Spirit won by six runs
Top scorers: Jonny Bairstow 34 (19 balls) – London Spirit; Jordan Cox 44 (28 balls) – Welsh Fire; Joe Root 31 (run-a-ball) – Welsh Fire; James Coles 29 – London Spirit; Jamie Overton 21 – London Spirit
Bowling figures: David Willey 3-20 – London Spirit; Marco Jansen 2-16 – Welsh Fire; Chris Woakes 2 wickets – Welsh Fire
Key moment: Marco Jansen caught by Jamie Overton off David Willey’s final ball, attempting the six needed to tie the scores
Venue: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Standings: Welsh Fire finished four wins from eight matches, four points behind Manchester Super Giants (2nd) and Sunrisers Leeds (3rd); London Spirit finished seventh with three wins
Schedule: Group phase concluded 12 August 2026; rest day 13 August; Eliminators at The Oval on 14 August — women’s fixture (Sunrisers Leeds v Southern Brave) at 14:15 BST, men’s fixture (Manchester Super Giants v TBC) from 18:00; finals at Lord’s on Sunday
