Southern Brave secured a dramatic eight-run victory against Welsh Fire in their opening match of The Hundred competition in Southampton. The comeback win began after 18-year-old spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman took the crucial wicket of Welsh Fire opener Georgia Voll.
Welsh Fire appeared to be on course for a comfortable chase of 127, reaching 109-3 with Voll unbeaten on 52. However, Corteen-Coleman's dismissal of the Australian batter marked the beginning of a dramatic collapse. The visitors lost five wickets for just six runs in 14 balls, shifting the momentum decisively.
Further wickets fell to Lauren Bell, who took the scalps of Georgia Wareham and Em Arlott, and captain Sophie Molineux, who finished with figures of 3-14 including the wicket of opposite captain Sophie Devine. These efforts secured the win for Southern Brave.
The home side's victory was hard-fought, especially considering a fielding performance that included dropped catches earlier in the innings. Voll herself was dropped in the opening set of the chase.
Earlier, Southern Brave, who reached four of the five finals and won the competition in 2023, struggled to capitalize on a solid start. Opener Lizelle Lee scored 30 from 26 deliveries, but South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt anchored the innings with an unbeaten 45. Heather Graham was effective with the ball for Welsh Fire, taking 4-19, which limited Southern Brave's final total to 126-7.
Welsh Fire, who made significant investments in their squad including a joint-high fee of £210,000 for Sophie Devine in the auction, will aim to recover quickly after finishing bottom of the table with only one win last season.