SOB W VS WEF W MATCH 5

Right then, that is it from this nail-biting game where Welsh Fire Women just gets the better of Southern Brave Women. However, the action now shifts to the Men's Hundred where the same two teams go against each other. Switch tabs to enjoy all the coverage of that match. Cheers!

Hayley Matthews is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for her all-round effort. She says that the win was great. Adds that the wicket was good for batting and said that they wanted to put in a good total. Shares that she was aware that Southern Brave Women would come hard at them. Adds that it was pretty special to do well after two poor seasons. Mentions that they were excited to get out there after the rained-out game. Adds that bowling the last over worked out pretty well and she managed to defend it. Closes by saying that she was unhappy with the wide call but they need to respect the umpire's decision.

Earlier in the game, after being asked to bat first, Welsh Fire Women put on a huge score on the board thanks to a magnificent fifty from Hayley Matthews while every other batter who came out in the middle chipped in with decent and quick knocks. Laura Harris looked like the real deal as she was hitting it cleanly but unfortunately got run-out courtesy of a rocket throw from Maia Bouchier which surely made a difference in the total, but Harris will be one to watch out for this season. Southern Brave Women were hot and cold with the ball as they were expensive at the start but made a good comeback in the middle and then again conceded a bit too many at the death. Chloe Tryon and Georgia Adams picked up a wicket each. However, after being ahead for most of the run chase they fell at the last hurdle and tasted defeat in heartbreaking fashion.

Welsh Fire Women, on the other hand, have got out of jail here due to the experience of Hayley Matthews, but they will need to improve if they want to challenge this season. They couldn't break the opening stand of the Southern Brave Women for a long time which put them on the back foot, and when they did, most of the damage was already done. Then Alex Griffiths suddenly picked up two wickets including the dangerous Danni Wyatt which slowed the rate of runs for a bit, but Mandhana kept finding the fence. However, the decision to give Hayley Matthews the last set after being expensive earlier was the turning point as she defended 8 runs successfully to give her side the points.

Southern Brave Women got off to a flying start with both their openers, Smriti Mandhana and Danni Wyatt scoring for fun. The latter struggled initially but once she took on Hayley Matthews in her second set, the game changed completely. They found the fence on regular occasions while also rotating the strike well. Wyatt went hammer and tons with Mandhana playing second fiddle. Unfortunately, Wyatt got dismissed after hammering 67 runs but her opening partner held one end well. Their innings slowed down for a bit but Smriti Mandhana found her momentum back just at the right time and kept going and remained unbeaten on 70, but in a surprising turn of events at the latter end of the innings they just fell short by 4 runs.

Take a bow, Hayley Matthews! She has pulled a rabbit out of the hat in the last over to take her side home. Southern Brave Women were the favourites to get the win here for most of this chase, but in the end they just could not get past the finish line. Welsh Fire Women also becomes the first team to beat Brave at the Ageas Bowl and this will give them a lot of confidence going into the season.

OUT! RUN OUT! Hayley Matthews defends eight runs! Hayley Matthews bowls this full and slower through the air, around off. Mandhana mis-hits the slog off the toe end toward the deep mid-wicket region and fails to take her side over the line. Shabnim Ismail from deep mid-wicket fires in the throw and Hayley Matthews takes the bails off as Freya Kemp goes out of her crease for the single.Welsh Fire Women come out on top by 4 runs!

Full and just outside off, Freya Kemp drills it down to long off for just a single.

Flat and wide outside off. Freya Kemp throws her hand at it but cannot connect.

Hayley Matthews bowls it full and quick outside off. Smriti Mandhana advances and squeezes it to the short third region. Claire Nicholas puts in the dive and saves it.

Slower through the air, around off. Freya Kemp skips down and drills it through covers for a single.

Freya Kemp comes out to the middle now. Will she be the hero for Southern Brave Women?

OUT! Hayley Matthews strikes! Bowls it flat and quick outside off. Chloe Tryon shimmies down and completely misses this. Sarah Bryce does well behind the stumps and whips off the bails in a flash. Chloe Tryon is a goner and the umpire has surpirsingly given this a WIDE!

Hayley Matthews to bowl the last set. Can she defend 8 runs here?

Full again, just outside off. Smriti Mandhana shuffles across and whips it to the deep mid-wicket region for a run.

Length, into the leg stump line. Chloe Tryon advances and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for just a single.

Very full on off. Smriti Mandhana drills it to long on for one.