Dwaine Pretorius struck some lusty blows, but it wasn't enough for Welsh Fire. Pic: Getty Images.

Welsh Fire Remain Winless . . . In What Has Been A Difficult Start To The Hundred

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By David Williams

The Welsh Fire men succumbed to their fifth defeat in five games in the hundred against Southern Brave, who dominated both games at Sophia Gardens.

The Welsh side are now languishing at the bottom of the table with 0 points in both the men’s and women’s competitions, after another two disappointing performances in Cardiff.

After five games, the men’s side remain four points below Birmingham Phoenix and Southern Brave.

Earlier on in the day Welsh Fire’s women’s team also fell to a defeat against the Brave, losing by 14 runs. They too lie bottom of the table, level on points with London Spirit after three games.

In the men’s game James Vince won the toss and had no hesitation in inserting the Fire on a greasy wicket and with a heavy cloud covering overhead.

Welsh Fire got off to the worst possible start, losing three early wickets for one run in the first ten balls to George Garton.

First to go was Jacob Bethell, who nicked behind off the second ball for a golden duck. James Cobb also went for a duck and then Ben Duckett fell to a diving catch behind the wicket by De Kock.

Joe Clarke and David Miller dug in and Miller had the honour of striking the first boundary off the 19th ball.

Miller was the fourth man out when he was clean bowled by James Fuller for 15 and Clarke followed after a calamitous run-out with Leus du Plooy for 17.

Du Plooy hit three boundaries in his 37 and fellow South African Dwaine Pretorius chipped in with 15 off seven balls.

He struck a six to take his side past the lowest total in the tournament, 87, and then hit a four to take his side past their own previous lowest total, 91.

Garton finished with impressive figures of 3-7 off his 15 balls.

The 25-year-old has been struggling with long Covid this season and was unable to finish his maximum spells, leaving Glamorgan favourite Michael Hogan to finish the innings for the visitors.

Matt Critchley made hay off the last set of five from, launching the last two balls for sixes to take his total to 32, but it was not enough to end the Fire’s losing run.

Paul Stirling started the innings with intent and hit an electric 74 off 42 balls as Southern Brave secured a crucial victory against Welsh Fire.

Stirling, had been called into the side for the first time this summer to replace Marcus Stoinis, took up where he left off in last season’s Hundred by joining Quinton de Kock in a first-wicket run fest.

He notched the highest individual score for the Brave and joined De Kock in a tournament-high partnership of 121 for the first wicket – just three short of The Hundred record for any wicket.

The home side were seeking their first win of the campaign after four straight defeats and also had revenge in mind having been beaten by nine wickets by the reigning champions in their opening game.

Despite a 20-minute break for rain when they batted, the Braves did not hang around in their chase as they condemned the Fire to a fifth successive defeat.

Stirling started at breakneck speed with two boundaries off David Payne and the Brave were 18 off 10 balls when the teams went off for the rain break.

He then punished George Scrimshaw with four successive fours when the game resumed and the visitors had 40 on the board from the powerplay and brought up their 50 off 63 balls.

Stirling then hit Payne for successive sixes to reach his half-century.

The only blot for the visitors was the loss of De Kock for 37 with nine runs left to win. They were added within four more balls to see the Brave home with 18 balls to spare.

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