Archer & Cartwright seal vital Brave win over Fire

The Hundred men’s competition, Sophia Gardens

Southern Brave 129-8 (100 balls): Cartwright 51* (19); Henry 2-5

Welsh Fire 125-8 (100 balls): Kohler-Cadmore 25 (28); Archer 3-20

Brave won by four runs

Southern Brave revived their Hundred campaign after three straight defeats with a crucial four-run win over Welsh Fire at Sophia Gardens.

The game was in the balance, with Fire needing 16 from the last 10 balls, but Tom Kohler-Cadmore was caught off James Coles for 25 to dent the hosts’ hopes.

Matt Henry then needed a six from the final ball to win but only managed a single as Chris Jordan held his nerve, with Fire finishing 125-8 and Jofra Archer taking 3-20.

Hilton Cartwright’s unbeaten 51 off just 19 balls proved the difference after Brave’s innings had been floundering at 71-5 from 71 balls when he came in at number seven.

Cartwright pummelled five sixes in his knock as Brave recovered to 129-8 on a slow surface against Fire, whose hopes of qualifying for the knockouts are all-but over, with just one win from five matches.

Fire started positively with the ball as New Zealand seamer Matt Henry bowled the second-most economical spell in The Hundred men’s compettion with 2-5 – Brave crawling to 18-1 after the powerplay.

James Vince’s 29 was the only notable contribution from the top order as Chris Green and David Payne also took two wickets each for Fire.

In contrast, Fire made an explosive start with 46-3 from their first 25 balls as Jonny Bairstow started aggressively, whacking 22 from 10 balls before he was dismissed by Craig Overton.

Archer then removed Steve Smith for 13 before adding Luke Wells and Paul Walter to his tally as Fire’s middle order buckled under the pressure.

Oval Invincibles and Trent Rockets will both be hoping to bounce back from defeats in their previous matches, as they play at The Oval at 15:00 BST.

It’s then a top of the table contest in the men’s game, which follows at 18:30 BST.