Phil Salt stood firm against a ferocious spell from England paceman Jofra Archer as the Welsh Fire captain steered his side to a six‑wicket triumph over the Southern Brave in The Hundred. The victory halted Fire's eight‑match run of defeats to the Brave, with Salt playing the starring role in a nail‑biting finish. Chasing a target of 135, the Fire found themselves needing 14 runs from the final ten balls.
Salt, partnered by Asa Tribe, kept their heads cool and methodically reduced the deficit. When the equation narrowed to four runs required off the last three deliveries, Salt was on strike. He unleashed a sweeping strike that sent Chris Jordan soaring over the boundary for a six, sealing the win in dramatic fashion. "The conditions weren't easy.
It was a good toss for us to win and chasing the target, we knew what it was," Salt told Sky Sports after the match. "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." Salt's unbeaten 47 off 37 balls proved pivotal. He arrived at the crease after the innings' midpoint, joining Matthew Short, who contributed a quick 20 before being caught at extra cover by Dan Worrall. The partnership between Salt and short‑stop Rachin Ravindra then blossomed, adding 49 runs from just 27 balls and swinging the momentum firmly in Fire's favour.
Ravindra praised the collaboration: "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 Brave's innings began cautiously.
Sam Cook dismissed Jamie Smith for three runs, and Marco Jansen claimed Ben McKinney for four. Thomas Rew (41) and David Miller (44) later steadied the chase, but Jansen struck back, removing Rew after a 30‑ball stay at the crease. Archer's dismissal was one of the most bizarre of the night.
After playing a shot to Jansen at cover, Archer attempted a quick single. Miscommunication with his batting partner led to both men colliding and being run out, a rare and costly error that highlighted the importance of clear communication in tight situations. Following the wicket, Salt and Short resumed the innings. Short's 20‑run cameo was cut short when he was caught by Dan Worrall at extra cover.
Worrall then returned to the action, teaming up with Smith to remove England legend Joe Root for 15, further denting the Brave's chase. When Ravindra joined Salt, the pair unleashed a flurry of boundaries and quick running, turning a precarious situation into a manageable target. Their 49‑run stand not only reduced the required runs but also lifted the team's morale, showcasing Salt's leadership both with the bat and as a captain. The match concluded with Fire needing just four runs from three balls.
Salt's decisive sweep over Jordan's head sent the ball racing to the fence, clinching a six‑wicket win and ending the team's eight‑game losing streak against the Brave. Looking ahead, Thursday's double‑header at Lord's will feature London Spirit versus Manchester Super Giants, with the women's fixture kicking off at 2:45 pm and the men's match following at 6:30 pm. Both games will be streamed live on Sky Sports and YouTube, and fans can also watch The Hundred and additional contract‑free cricket on the NOW platform.
Overall, Salt's composed performance under pressure, his strategic batting, and his ability to galvanise his teammates were instrumental in reversing the Fire's fortunes. The win not only broke a losing streak but also reinforced Salt's reputation as a mature, adaptable leader capable of delivering when it matters most.