Phil Salt stood firm against a fierce spell of fast bowling from England’s own Jofra Archer as the Welsh Fire captain steered his side to a dramatic six‑wicket win over the Southern Brave in the latest Hundred fixture. The victory was particularly sweet because it halted an eight‑match run of defeats to the Brave, and Salt’s composed batting in the final overs proved decisive.
Chasing a target of 135, the Fire found themselves in a tight spot as the innings drew to a close. With only ten balls remaining they needed 14 runs, and the pressure was mounting. Salt, alongside fellow middle‑order batsman Asa Tribe, showed the calmness required in a chase, nibbling away at the required total while keeping the scoreboard ticking over. In the final three deliveries, Salt was on strike with just four runs needed.
He seized the moment, sweeping a full‑length delivery from Chris Jordan for a massive six that sealed the win for Welsh Fire. His unbeaten 47 off 37 balls earned him the man of the match award and cemented his reputation as a big‑game performer.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Salt reflected on the conditions and the team’s effort: "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 Brave’s innings began cautiously. Opening bowler Sam Cook dismissed Jamie Smith for three runs, and then Marco Jansen removed Ben McKinney for four, giving the Fire an early foothold. However, the Brave recovered when Thomas Rew (41) and veteran David Miller (44) steadied the ship with sensible batting.
Jansen struck back, claiming his second wicket of the match by dismissing Rew after a 30‑ball effort. A bizarre run‑out later saw Archer, who had come in to bat, caught in a mix‑up.
Miller had struck a ball to Jansen at cover, and Archer attempted a quick single. His partner, however, turned back towards the stumps, causing confusion that resulted in Archer being run out – an unusual end to the England seamer’s innings.
After the break, Salt joined Matthew Short at the crease. Short contributed a quick 20 before being caught at extra cover by Dan Worrall. Worrall then returned to the action, partnering with Smith to dismiss England legend Joe Root for 15. Rachin Ravindra’s arrival marked a turning point for the Fire.
He and Salt forged a powerful partnership of 49 runs off just 27 balls, shifting momentum firmly in Welsh 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." Ravindra added that Salt’s maturity and leadership were evident throughout: "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 the losing streak but also highlighted Welsh Fire’s improved fielding standards, with several spectacular catches and sharp reflexes that turned potential runs into wickets.
Their bowlers, too, executed disciplined lines, keeping the Brave’s scoring rate in check for much of the innings. 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 contest beginning at 6:30 pm. Both games will be streamed live on Sky Sports and YouTube, while the NOW platform will offer contract‑free streaming of The Hundred and additional cricket content.
Overall, Phil Salt’s innings was a masterclass in handling pressure, combining aggressive stroke‑play with intelligent shot selection. His six to finish the chase will be remembered by Fire supporters as the moment the tide turned, ending a frustrating series of defeats to the Brave and restoring confidence ahead of the next fixtures in the tournament.