Phil Salt stood firm against the pace of England’s fast bowler Jofra Archer, steering Welsh Fire to a six‑wicket triumph over Southern Brave in The Hundred. The victory halted Fire’s eight‑match run of defeats to the Brave, with Salt playing a pivotal, dramatic role in the chase. Chasing a modest target of 135, Fire found themselves in a tense situation as the innings drew to a close.
With just ten balls left, they required 14 runs. Salt, alongside fellow batsman Asa Tribe, showed nerves of steel, methodically trimming the deficit.
The pressure mounted further when Salt, unbeaten on 47 off 37 balls, was on strike with only four runs needed from three deliveries. In a moment that will be replayed for weeks, he swept Chris Jordan for a towering six, sealing the win for Welsh Fire. Reflecting on the match, Salt told Sky Sports, “The conditions weren’t easy.
It was a good toss for us to win and chase 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.” Brave’s innings began cautiously.
Sam Cook dismissed Jamie Smith for three runs, and Marco Jansen soon claimed Ben McKinney for four. The early wickets kept the Brave score modest, but a partnership between Thomas Rew (41) and David Miller (44) steadied the innings.
Jansen, however, struck back, removing Rew after a 30‑ball effort. A bizarre run‑out later saw Archer, who had come to the crease, dismissed in an unusual fashion. Miller struck a ball to Jansen at cover; Archer attempted a quick single, but his batting partner turned back, spinning around the stumps and causing a costly miscommunication that saw Archer run out. After the break, Salt and Matthew Short joined the chase.
Short contributed a quick 20 before being caught at extra cover by Dan Worrall. Worrall, back in the action, teamed up with Smith to dismiss England legend Joe Root for 15. Rachin Ravindra then arrived at the crease, and the partnership that followed changed the game’s complexion. Salt and Ravindra combined for an aggressive 49‑run stand off just 27 balls, shifting momentum firmly 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 the losing streak but also highlighted Welsh Fire’s resilience under pressure.
Their fielding unit displayed sharp reflexes, with several impressive catches that lifted team morale. The bowlers, too, executed disciplined lines, keeping the Brave’s scoring rate in check throughout the innings. Looking ahead, the next Hundred double‑header will be played at Lord’s, where London Spirit face Manchester Super Giants.
The women’s fixture kicks off at 2:45 pm, followed by the men’s game at 6:30 pm. Both matches will be streamed live on Sky Sports and YouTube, with additional coverage available on the NOW platform. This upcoming weekend promises more high‑octane cricket, and Welsh Fire will be eager to build on their recent success, aiming to turn the tide of the season in their favour.