The Hundred: Sophie Molineux leads Southern Brave to thrilling eight-run victory against Welsh Fire
Wednesday 22 July 2026 19:19, UK
Southern Brave captain Sophie Molineux starred by taking three wickets to lead her side to a thrilling eight-run comeback victory against Welsh Fire Women in The Hundred on Wednesday.
The 2025 Hundred finalists set Fire a target of 127 to win in the first innings at The Utilita Bowl, with Laura Wolvaardt starring with the bat, making an unbeaten 45 off 36 deliveries, while Fire's Heather Graham returned impressive figures of 4-19.
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Welsh Fire then took control, thanks to a brilliant innings from Georgia Voll, who brought up a score of 52 from 39 deliveries, to put the pressure back on the hosts.
Freya Kemp then compounded the Brave's woes further, adding a further 39 runs before she was dismissed by a sensational direct hit from Jemimah Rodrigues.
Despite Rodrigues' moment of brilliance, Brave were errant in the field, dropping seven catches, including that of Georgia Voll.
"Hopefully we have got the drops out of the way early," Molineux, who struck 22 off 16 balls in the first innings, told Sky Sports. "That happens. It's not a technical thing. It's just getting back into the swing of things.
"I'm sure we'll be on top of that and not let it get us down for sure."
At 80-2, with 41 balls remaining, Welsh Fire looked in control, but Molineux, alongside England's Lauren Bell, spurred her team on to keep the Fire to 118 runs for eight wickets at the end of their innings.
Asked what she told her team when Fire began to take command, Molineux said: "It was just to hang in there. They were batting really well. They were going really hard, but we knew there were chances coming.
"It was probably just to hold our nerve for as long as possible there. They batted really well. I thought Sarah Glenn's spell was really good, but for Tilly Corteen-Coleman to come in was really good."
Molineux, who had already taken Ella McCaughan's wicket, dismissed Sophie Devine next, forcing the New Zealand batter to play at a shot outside off, but instead clipped it to Lizelle Lee behind the stumps.
Wickets then began to fall quickly. Tilly Corteen-Coleman stopped Voll in her tracks, with the Australian clipping the 18-year-old out to Maia Bouchier at long on.
Three deliveries later, Issy Wong caught Georgia Wareham out off a Lauren Bell delivery, before the England fast bowler took her second of the match, knocking over Em Arlott's stumps, to leave Fire needing 16 runs off 11 deliveries.
But it was too little too late, with Molineux snaring Niamh Holland before Corteen-Coleman bowled Heather Graham to keep the visitors to 118 runs in their innings.
Bell stumped by her side's performance
England fast bowler Bell said dismissing Devine was a critical moment in the match.
"I actually can't believe we got back into the game," Bell said.
"Once we got one wicket, we got another wicket and then showed our class at the end.
"There were obviously a few nerves going out there on the first game of the competition," she added, speaking on the dropped catches. "We'll put that behind us and we'll move on, but we became clutch at the end.
"Once we got the breakthrough and Devine gone, we knew that we were in the game. We had an end to bowl at and slowed Georgia Voll's game up. We knew we just needed one wicket and we were back in it.
"We've not been together long, but a victory like that gives us a lot of confidence. Tournament cricket is all about starting fast so it's really important to get the first win."
What's next?
Thursday's Hundred double-header comes from Lord's in London as London Spirit take on Manchester Super Giants. The women's game starts at 2.45pm, with the men's match due to commence from 6.30pm. Catch both fixtures live on Sky Sports and on YouTube. Watch The Hundred and more contract-free on NOW
