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Phil Salt struck an unbeaten 47 and held his nerve on his home ground to deliver Welsh Fire their first victory over Southern Brave since 2021 — ending an eight-match losing streak against the Brave in the most nerve-shredding fashion, clearing the ropes off Chris Jordan with two balls to spare to send the visitors home with a six-wicket win at the Utilita Bowl.
Southampton: Welsh Fire came into The Hundred 2026 with a new captain, a new-look bowling attack and a point to prove. After eight consecutive defeats against a Southern Brave side that had made the Utilita Bowl something close to a fortress in this fixture, Salt’s side answered every question asked of them on a two-paced pitch that made life difficult for batters on both sides — and then made things far harder for themselves than they needed to in the final stretch.
Woakes, Jansen and Cook Dismantle the Brave
Bowling first on a tacky pitch, Welsh Fire’s seam attack varied their pace expertly, with Chris Woakes, Sam Cook and Marco Jansen shackling the Brave’s attempts to break free, conceding just 72 from their combined 60 balls. It was a masterclass in disciplined seam bowling on a surface that rewarded patience — and it set the tone for everything that followed.
Cook set the tone with a beautiful leg-cutter to bowl Jamie Smith. Fellow opener Ben McKinney then perished to a boundary catch from Ravindra. At 15 for 2 inside the first quarter of the innings, the Brave were in serious trouble — and the pitch was offering precious little comfort.
Into the breach stepped 18-year-old Thomas Rew. The teenager made a sparkling 41 from 30 balls in his maiden innings in the competition, playing with a freedom and assurance that suggested a player untroubled by the occasion. He gave the Brave home fans something to cheer in what had been a stilted start, and his partnership with David Miller began to rebuild the innings.
Miller took his time to size up the pitch, taking 18 balls to compile his first 10 runs. Progress was further stalled when Tristan Stubbs fell for just 4 to a brilliant boundary catch from Ben Kellaway. But Miller then let loose, adding a further 34 from his next 17 balls before succumbing to a bullet throw from Ravindra — run out from the covers in the most dramatic of circumstances. Jofra Archer came to the crease but was also run out in bizarre fashion — Miller had struck a ball to Jansen at cover and attempted a single, but his batting partner sent him back, turning in a circle in the middle of the wicket as Fire made the pair pay for their miscommunication. Miller top-scored with 44, but the middle-order collapse and the twin run-outs left the Brave on 135 for 7 — a total that felt below par.
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Salt Steadies, Then the Nerves Arrive
Welsh Fire’s chase started shakily. Matt Short brought up a score of 20 before being caught out at extra cover by Dan Worrall. Worrall was back in action again, combining with Smith to dismiss Joe Root for 15. At 51 for 2, with their two most experienced top-order names back in the shed, the Fire needed someone to take control.
Salt was that man. His third-wicket partnership of 49 with Rachin Ravindra — 24 from 16 balls — looked to have settled matters, and with 20 balls remaining and just 19 needed, the game appeared done. Then the Brave found their voice. Adil Rashid’s final five balls went for just a single to ignite the crowd of 8,452, and when Jofra Archer’s follow-up 10 deliveries leaked just nine runs, it left the Fire needing nine from five.
Ravindra had already holed out to the leg-spin of Nikhil Chaudhary, and suddenly the noise inside the Utilita Bowl was deafening. But Salt — calm, unhurried, the most experienced white-ball opener in England’s setup — refused to flinch. He silenced the Southampton crowd with a handsome six over deep midwicket off Chris Jordan — a full ball on leg stump that Salt cleared his front leg and dispatched into the stands. Fire won by six wickets with two balls to spare.
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History Made, and a Statement Sent
For the first time since 2021, Welsh Fire had beaten Southern Brave — ending an eight-match winless streak against the Brave and laying down an early marker for the rest of the competition. Under Salt’s captaincy and with the firepower of Woakes, Jansen and Cook in the attack, this Welsh Fire side looks a very different proposition from the outfit that finished bottom of the table in 2025.
For Southern Brave, the defeat will sting. The two run-outs were inexcusable on a night when every run proved precious, and the failure to accelerate past 135 on their own ground leaves them with work to do in the matches ahead.
Result: Welsh Fire won by 6 wickets (with 2 balls remaining)
Player of the Match: Phil Salt (WF) — 47* (37)
Full Scorecard:
Southern Brave 135/7 (100 balls) — Rew 41 (30), Miller 44 (35); Jansen 2/17
Welsh Fire 138/4 (98 balls) — Salt 47* (37), Ravindra 24 (16), Short 20; Chaudhary 2/19
