Southern Brave Make History with Undefeated League Stage

Southern Brave have etched their name into the annals of The Hundred, completing a remarkable and unprecedented unbeaten league stage. Their dominant 29-run victory over Welsh Fire in their final regular-season match ensures they head into the eliminator stages with a perfect record, a feat never before achieved in the competition's history.

In a strategic move to offer valuable game time to other players before the high-stakes finals, the Brave opted for an experimental batting lineup. Despite this, they were restricted to 106 for 8, largely due to a disciplined bowling performance from Welsh Fire, with Hayley Matthews and Katie Levick proving particularly effective. Skipper Georgia Adams anchored the innings with an unbeaten 30 off 26 balls, supported by Danni Wyatt-Hodge (24 off 23) and Freya Kemp (18 off 19).

The Welsh Fire's chase started promisingly, with Sophia Dunkley and Tammy Beaumont contributing to a confident 50 for 1 in 56 balls. However, the tide turned dramatically under the relentless pressure of the Brave's bowling attack. A slow and low pitch made strokeplay challenging, and the home side's bowlers exploited these conditions masterfully. The turning point arrived with a brilliant run-out by Freya Kemp, dismissing Georgia Elwiss who had just broken a 40-ball boundary drought for the Fire.

The match was ultimately sealed by an exceptional spell from Lauren Bell, who triggered a dramatic collapse, claiming 4 wickets for a mere 6 runs in her allocated overs. This devastating performance saw Welsh Fire lose eight wickets for just 27 runs, eventually being bowled out for 77 for 9. Bell's heroics not only secured the historic win for the Brave but also propelled her to the top of the wicket-taking charts for the competition, with an impressive total of 19 wickets.

Reflecting on her performance and the team's success, Player of the Match Lauren Bell stated, "It's been a really good tournament and I feel in a good place. We bowled exceptionally as a unit; we talk about how dots are really important and we fielded great - we are an unbelievable fielding unit." She added, "It's massive to get eight from eight and we can take that momentum into the final now. We didn't want to slip up here, and at Lord's on Sunday we'll keep our plans really clear, keep doing the basics and enjoy the day."

The Southern Brave's unparalleled consistency throughout the season positions them as formidable contenders for The Hundred title, while Welsh Fire concludes a disappointing campaign.