Phil Salt stood firm against a barrage of fast bowling from England’s own Jofra Archer as the Welsh Fire captain steered his side to a thrilling six‑wicket win over the Southern Brave in the latest Hundred fixture. The victory was especially sweet because it halted Fire’s eight‑match run of defeats at the hands of the Brave, with Salt playing a decisive role in the final overs.
Chasing a target of 135, Welsh Fire found themselves in a tense situation as the innings drew to a close. With only ten balls left, they required 14 runs. Salt, partnered by the young Asa Tribe, showed remarkable composure, methodically chipping away at the required total.
The climax arrived when Salt, having already compiled an unbeaten 47 off 37 balls, was on strike with just four runs needed from three deliveries. In a display of power and timing, he swept Chris Jordan straight over the boundary for a six, sealing the win for his team. Reflecting on the match, Salt told Sky Sports, "The conditions weren’t easy. It was a good toss for us to win and chasing the target, we knew what it was.
We were electric in the field. There was some real good catching on display. We got off the rope well today. Bowling‑wise, we put the ball in the right areas.
Did we do it for long enough? Were we smart enough? That's one for the coaches." His comments highlighted both the challenges posed by the pitch and the collective effort of the side in both batting and fielding. The Brave’s innings began modestly.
Sam Cook opened the scoring with a quick three‑run boundary off Jamie Smith, but the momentum shifted when Marco Jansen dismissed Ben McKinney for four runs. The middle order, featuring Thomas Rew (41) and veteran David Miller (44), steadied the chase, building a partnership that kept the Brave in contention. However, Jansen struck again, removing Rew after a 30‑ball cameo, adding further pressure on the opposition.
A bizarre moment unfolded when Jofra Archer, having come to the crease, was run out in an unusual fashion. Miller had struck a ball to Jansen at cover, and Archer attempted a single.
In a miscommunication, his batting partner turned back, circling the middle of the wicket, which resulted in the run‑out and highlighted the importance of clear communication between partners. After the brief interruption, Salt and Matthew Short joined the fray. Short contributed a quick 20 before being caught at extra cover by Dan Worrall. Worrall then returned to the field, partnering with Smith to dismiss England legend Joe Root for a modest 15 runs, further destabilising the Brave’s chase.
The turning point arrived when Rachin Ravindra entered the innings. Salt and Ravindra forged a rapid 49‑run partnership off just 27 balls, shifting the momentum decisively in Fire’s favour. Ravindra praised the collaboration, saying to Sky Sports, "It’s great to play a role in a partnership.
Communication was key out there between us. Salty played well out there. It wasn’t such a free‑flowing T20 wicket as we’re used to seeing. He supported me greatly during that partnership, and it’s great to see the skipper finish it off at the end.
We’re all used to seeing that free‑flowing Phil Salt, aren’t we? The comms were mostly just about hitting good cricket shots, trusting our positions, hitting the gaps hard and running hard, and the boundaries would come. Salty is such a special player but showed his maturity and leadership to keep us accountable ball after ball." The win not only broke a demoralising losing streak but also underscored Salt’s growth as a leader.
His calm under pressure, ability to finish games, and encouragement of teammates reflected a maturity beyond his years. The Welsh Fire’s fielding unit also received commendation, with several spectacular catches and sharp ground fielding that helped restrict the Brave’s run‑rate.
Looking ahead, the Hundred’s double‑header at Lord’s promises more excitement. Later on Thursday, the London Spirit will face the Manchester Super Giants, with the women's match kicking off at 2:45 pm and the men’s game following at 6:30 pm.
Both fixtures will be streamed live on Sky Sports and YouTube, while the NOW platform will provide contract‑free streaming for fans eager to catch all the action. Overall, the match showcased the unpredictable nature of The Hundred, where a single over can change the outcome, and highlighted the importance of strategic captaincy, clear communication, and composure in high‑pressure situations. Phil Salt’s performance will be remembered as a textbook example of finishing a chase, and Welsh Fire will look to build on this momentum as the tournament progresses.