Phil Salt stood firm against a barrage of fast bowling from England’s Jofra Archer as the Welsh Fire captain guided his side to a dramatic six‑wicket triumph over the Southern Brave in The Hundred. The victory halted Fire’s eight‑match losing streak to the Brave, with Salt playing a pivotal role in the final overs. Chasing a target of 135, the Fire found themselves needing 14 runs from the last ten balls. Salt, together with fellow batsman Asa Tribe, kept their composure and methodically trimmed the required runs.
When the equation narrowed to four runs needed from three balls, Salt was on strike. He unleashed a sweeping shot that sent Chris Jordan soaring 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.” The innings began slowly for the Brave. Sam Cook opened the scoring by dismissing Jamie Smith for three runs, and Marco Jansen soon removed Ben McKinney for four.
Thomas Rew (41) and David Miller (44) steadied the chase, but Jansen struck again, taking Rew’s wicket after just 30 deliveries. Archer’s arrival at the crease ended abruptly in a bizarre run‑out.
Miller struck a ball to Jansen at cover; Archer attempted a quick single, but his partner turned back, causing confusion and ultimately the dismissal. The miscommunication cost the Brave dearly. After the break, Salt and Matthew Short took the field. Short contributed a quick 20 before being caught at extra cover by Dan Worrall.
Worrall then partnered with Smith to dismiss England legend Joe Root for 15. Rachin Ravindra’s entry marked a turning point. He and Salt forged a rapid 49‑run partnership off just 27 balls, shifting momentum in Fire’s favour.
Ravindra praised the collaboration, saying, “Communication was key out there between us. Salty played well. It wasn’t the free‑flowing T20 wicket 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 focused on hitting good shots, trusting our positions, hitting the gaps hard and running hard, and the boundaries came. Salty is a special player; he showed maturity and leadership, keeping us accountable ball after ball.” The partnership’s aggressive intent forced the Brave’s bowlers onto the back foot, and Salt’s calm finishing ability shone through. His unbeaten 47 off 37 deliveries anchored the chase, and his final six off the last ball ensured the Fire crossed the line with three wickets in hand.
Beyond the match itself, the event formed part of a double‑header at Lord’s, where the London Spirit were set to face the Manchester Super Giants later that evening. The women’s fixture began at 2:45 pm, followed by the men’s game at 6:30 pm, both broadcast live on Sky Sports and streamed on YouTube. Fans could also watch The Hundred and other contract‑free cricket on the NOW platform.
Overall, Salt’s performance highlighted his adaptability under pressure, his ability to navigate a challenging pitch, and his leadership qualities as captain. By guiding Welsh Fire to a hard‑earned win, he not only broke a lengthy losing streak but also set a positive tone for the remainder of the tournament, offering a blueprint for handling high‑pressure chases in the fast‑paced format of The Hundred.