The Welsh Fire secured a narrow four-wicket win over the Southern Brave in Cardiff, handing the league leaders their first loss of the season. The Brave, who had remained unbeaten through their first five matches, defended a total of 121-5 down to the very final delivery of the game. Ultimately, Heather Graham scored the winning runs, finishing with an undefeated 35.
The match at Sophia Gardens began with a strong bowling performance from 18-year-old Tilly Corteen-Coleman, who claimed 3-27. She dismissed the Fire’s top-order players, Georgia Voll, Ella McCaughan, and Freya Kemp, putting the hosts in a precarious position. Georgia Wareham, serving as captain due to Sophie Devine’s injury, fell for 16, leaving the team at 70-5. However, Graham’s steady leadership and support from Grace Thompson and Niamh Holland guided the side home.
Earlier, the Brave opted to bat first but struggled after losing Lizelle Lee and Maia Bouchier early on. A partnership of 49 between Jemimah Rodrigues and Laura Wolvaardt provided stability, though Wolvaardt was dismissed by Graham for 48, just shy of a half-century. While the Brave set a challenging target, they could not prevent the Fire from clinching their second victory of the tournament.
