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Southern Brave and Welsh Fire secured emphatic wins on the double-header day of The Hundred Men’s 2024 season on Saturday, July 3. Southern Brave’s 32-run triumph over Birmingham Phoenix marked their third win of the season as they consolidated themselves at the top of the points table. With six points courtesy of three wins from four games, Brave’s NRR stands at a formidable 0.792.
Oval Invincibles is ranked second on the eight-team table with two wins from three matches. Trent Rockets, Welsh Fire, Northern Superchargers and Birmingham Phoenix have also accumulated four points each to take the subsequent four slots in that order based on NRR.
London Spirit, with a solitary win to its credit from three matches, is placed seventh on the team rankings. Winless Manchester Originals, meanwhile, continue to languish at the bottom of the points table.
Southern Brave climb to the top, Welsh Fire finds breathing space
Batting first in Birmingham, Southern Brave made 169/2 courtesy of an unbeaten 90 from captain James Vince. The elegant right-hander launched six boundaries and six sixes in his 47-ball knock. He made effective partnerships with opening partner Alex Davies (30 off 22 balls) and with number four Kieron Pollard (38* off 22 balls).
Chasing 170, Birmingham Phoenix’s innings largely revolved around the 53-ball 92 pounded by opener Ben Duckett. The remaining 10 Phoenix batters managed to conjure just 45 runs between them to have their chase attempt squandered at 137/9. Falling 32 runs short of their target, the Phoenix batters fell prey to three-fers from Akeal Hosein and Chris Jordan.
In Nottingham, Welsh Fire climbed up to 129/6 from 100 balls despite losing two early wickets. Jonny Bairstow scored 55 off 45 balls, while captain Tom Abell packed 33 runs in the middle overs. For Trent Rockets, Imad Wasim claimed the wickets of Joe Clarke and Bairstow before Sam Cook secured figures of 2/22 at the death.
In pursuit of 130, Trent Rockets fell a boundary short off their target, despite featuring handy contributions from each of their top six batters. Opener Alex Hales top-scored with a fiery 23 before David Payne (2/18) and Haris Rauf (2/15) claimed late wickets for the Welsh Fire.
