Jess Jonassen’s Heroics in Vain as Southern Brave Edge Past Welsh Fire in Thriller

Despite a stunning four-wicket haul from Jess Jonassen, Welsh Fire fell agonisingly short of victory as Southern Brave held their nerve to win by three wickets in a tense final-over finish in the Women’s Hundred at Cardiff.

With this win, the table-topping Southern Brave maintained their unbeaten run in the tournament and secured a top-three finish, while Welsh Fire remain winless.

Set a modest target of 112, Brave appeared in control during the chase but were rattled by a determined Fire bowling performance led by Jonassen, who delivered exceptional figures of 4 for 10. The match went down to the wire, with Brave needing six runs from the final five deliveries.

Drama unfolded in the last set as Mady Villiers was run out coming back for a second run off the first ball. Georgia Adams and Rhianna Southby then scrambled a couple of tense runs, taking Brave past the finish line with one ball to spare.

Earlier, Brave won the toss and opted to bowl first. Fire suffered an early setback with star opener Hayley Matthews dismissed for a first-ball duck by Sophie Devine. Sophia Dunkley played some stylish strokes to score 31, but the innings never gained momentum. Captain Tammy Beaumont (7) was brilliantly caught by Maia Bouchier off Lauren Bell, and Elwiss (36* off 36) provided a steady hand to guide the total to 111 for 6.

Brave’s bowlers were clinical, with Bell returning impressive figures of 2 for 21, while Tilly Corteen-Coleman and Devine applied constant pressure.

In response, Brave got off to a solid start with Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge taking the score to 32 without loss after the powerplay. But Fire hit back with a flurry of wickets. Georgia Davis had Wyatt-Hodge (18) caught brilliantly by Jonassen, who then dismissed Bouchier (35), Laura Wolvaardt (3), and Chloe Tryon (0) in quick succession.

Sophie Devine threatened to take the game away with a brisk 25, including a slog-swept six off Davis. Freya Kemp also chipped in with 17 but fell to Jonassen as Fire kept fighting.

Despite the collapse, Brave held on to seal a nervy win. Devine, who was named the Meerkat Match Hero, praised the opposition for pushing them to the brink.

“Credit has to go to the Welsh Fire,” Devine said. “We were probably cruising at the halfway stage, but they fought back brilliantly. It wasn't our best day, but to get over the line is really pleasing.”

With one match left in the group stages, Southern Brave look poised for a strong finish, while Welsh Fire will search for their first win of the season in their final fixture.