Match 32, Cardiff, August 18, 2021, 11:00 PM
London Spirit
163/5(20.0ov)
Welsh Fire
165/7(19.3ov)
Welsh Fire beat London Spirit by 3 wickets
That's all we have from this exciting match. On Friday, 20th August 2021, Southern Brave will face Trent Rocket in the Eliminator. Don't forget to join us before 6.30 pm local (5.30 pm GMT) as our build-up will begin in advance. Until next time, it's goodbye and cheers!
Ben Duckett, the captain of Welsh Fire, comes up for a chat. He is very happy to get his first win as a captain. Says that it's great to have a full house. Mentions that the way London batted, it could have been worse but Ryan Higgins bowled so well and brought them back. Admits that they didn't start well but praises Glenn Phillips for his extraordinary batting and others for finishing the game. Tells that no one wants to finish last and it was a chance for the players, who haven't played, to come in and show what they got. Regarding this tournament, Ben replies that it was amazing and the atmosphere was great. Also adds that the standard of cricket was phenomenal.
Hero of the Match is Glenn Phillips! The Kiwi says that getting a century was on his mind but winning the match was the priority. Adds that it's great to have so many people here and it was noisy and loud. On his batting, Phillips replies that he reacts to the situation, watches the ball and hits it, as the more he will think, the worse it can get (smiles). Shares that the pitch was a bit on the slower side and praises Josh Inglis for the way he batted. Mentions that he tried to get used to a 10-ball set and mentions that Mason Crane bowled really well. Says that it will be interesting to see how this tournament goes in the next few seasons.
Earlier in the evening, Josh Inglis played an exceptional knock and along with Joe Cracknell laid a strong platform. Eoin Morgan also played a useful hand but in the last 10 balls, the Spirit failed to get the desired push. That probably cost them big in this match.
London Spirit bowled decently at the start but then lost the plot. They appeared clueless in front of Glenn Phillips who took them for a ride at Sophia Gardens. Still, a word of praise for Blake Cullen and Brad Wheal who have been very impressive for the Spirit in this edition and picked up 6 wickets together in the match.
The chase didn't start well for Welsh Fire as they lost three wickets in the first 15 balls and were reeling. With nothing much to lose, Glenn Phillips decided to cut loose and put on an incredible show of power-hitting. The Kiwi went berserk to smash a 35-ball 80 and formed a 93-run alliance with Leus du Plooy to revive the chase. Due to his sensational batting and effective partnership, the required rate wasn't much of an issue and despite both Glenn and Leus getting out in quick succession, the batsmen to follow managed to keep the chase going. The birthday boy Josh Cobb held one end superbly and finished things off along with Qais Ahmad in the end.
Fantastic result for Welsh Fire and they will be delighted to end their 5-match losing streak and finish the season on a high. Eoin Morgan is looking visibly disappointed as he goes on to shake hands with the opposition players. His team has finished last in the inaugural edition of The Hundred and will take the wooden spoon.
In over# 20
4
4
0
Brad Wheal 30/3(3.3)
98
4
FOUR! Qais finishes it off calmly! Short in length and outside off, Ahmad stays back and just lofts it over short third man for the winning runs. A big smile on the face of the Afghan as Cobb hugs him. The crowd is loving it as Welsh Fire win by 3 wickets!
97
4
FOUR! EDGY! The crowd roars. A length delivery outside off, Qais hangs back again, goes hard at it and edges it wide of short third man for a boundary. 3 needed off 3 balls. No need to do anything silly now.
96
.
Big swing and a miss! A touch short and outside off, Qais rocks back to smash it over the leg side but misses.
Brad Wheal to bowl. 7 needed off 5 balls. This is going down to the wire.
In over# 19
1
4
1
4
1
Jade Dernbach 23/0(3)
95
1
Width on offer outside off, Josh throws his bat at it again and it goes off the bottom edge to short third man. They cross.
And now London are told they have to have an extra fielder inside the ring because they've missed the cut-off. So six inside and three allowed outside.
94
4
FOUR! Up and over short third man. A wide yorker outside off, Cobb throws his bat at it and the outside edge takes it over the infield. 8 needed off 6 balls.
93
1
Slower one, full and dipping in, Ahmad drives it back and Jade deflects it to covers. They cross for a run, think about the second but Cobb sends the Afghan back.
92
4
FOUR! Hammered away! Dernbach looks for the yorker, doesn't find it, it's a full toss and Qais whacks it through extra cover. The crowd is on its feet. 13 needed off 8 balls.
91
1
A full toss outside off, slower in pace, Cobb lofts it down to long off for just a run.
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