Matt Short’s Return Sinks Southern Brave in Cardiff

Fire chase down 116 with ease as Matt Short stars unbeaten.

A Timely Return

Matt Short proved to be a timely replacement for Welsh Fire as they bounced back from their defeat against Birmingham Phoenix. The all-rounder returned to the top of the order and remained not out as his team posted a six-wicket win over Southern Brave in Cardiff.

Fire recorded their fourth successive victory in the group stage, securing their position on top of the table alongside Trent Rockets.

Seamers Set The Tone

Winning the toss and electing to bowl turned out to be a masterstroke as Chris Woakes and Sam Cook sent the opposition top-order packing. Both openers were out in the space of seven balls as Brave were reduced to 2/2, with Jamie Smith and Ben McKinney falling to a sharp catch by substitute keeper Phil Salt.

The hosts made the most of the spicy pitch as their seamers tormented the Brave batters, who struggled to score at will.

Brave Struggle To Settle

Nikhil Chaudhary and Marcus Stoinis tried their best to steady the innings, but the duo failed to register a run in the powerplay before posting 45 for the loss of three wickets at the halfway stage.

The new pair managed only one run before the fall of the first wicket as Stoinis was adjudged lbw to Sam Cook. Rachin Ravindra then pitched a brilliant googly to dismiss Tristan Stubbs before cleaning up Moeen Ali, who miscued a catch to Joe Root at mid-on.

Stoinis Fights Alone

With the tailenders struggling, Stoinis stood firm as the only recognised batter in the innings. The campaigner brought up a handy fifty off 35 balls, the highlight of the Brave’s innings, before falling to another brilliant catch by Sam Cook.

The left-armer had put on a vital 52 with Ravindra for the fifth wicket before he was dismissed in the space of two balls. The left-hander accounted for the dangerous opener Mohammad Rizwan and then had David Miller caught at deep square leg as he wrapped up the innings.

Cook was rightly adjudged man of the match after figures of 3/14, better by far than his opening bowling partner Chris Woakes.

Chase Has A Wobble

Chasing down 116 was always going to be a tall order, but Jofra Archer got his side off to a flyer by dismissing Phil Salt in the very first over. However, the hosts did not panic, as an enterprising innings from the two openers, Matt Short and Joe Root, saw them post 56 for no wicket.

Short and Root laid a solid foundation for the innings before the latter was out for 17 with just 44 on the board.

Short Seals It

After the fall of Root, it was business as usual as Matt Short accelerated the innings to seal Fire’s position at the top of the group.

The skipper brought up a well-deserved fifty off 37 balls as he struck 3/4/6 before finding an able partner in Tom Kohler-Cadmore. Kohler-Cadmore, who remained unbeaten on his debut, chipped in with 23 as the two put on 54 for the fourth wicket to see Fire home with five balls to spare.

Short felt the pitch was spicy, especially as the bowlers made the most of the conditions early on. The left-hander stated that it was hard work at first before the shine came off the ball and the batters started to settle.

Where Things Stand

Victory over Southern Brave sees Welsh Fire keep their place at the top of the group on 16 points, level with Trent Rockets.

For their part, Brave remain fourth with two wins from six group-stage matches and will need to turn things around in their remaining fixtures if they are to have any chance of reaching the knockout stages. Sunrisers Leeds take on London Spirit in the day’s other match at Headingley.