Match 12, Cardiff, August 13, 2025, 11:00 PM
Welsh Fire
137/8(20.0ov)
Manchester Originals
112/10(19.2ov)
Welsh Fire beat Manchester Originals by 25 runs
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Chris Green
Commentry
Right then, this wraps up the double-header Wednesday as another day has flown by in this season. It was a classic thriller in Southampton earlier, with Northern Superchargers winning it off the final delivery and handing Southern Brave their first defeat of the season. While here in Cardiff, Welsh Fire's spectacular defence at home helped them register their first win of the season over Manchester Originals. Welsh Fire have now leapfrogged from the bottom to the fifth spot, while the Originals slip down to the bottom with their third defeat, having a lot to ponder in their upcoming games. Next up in The Hundred, 2025, is another crucial clash at the Home of Cricket, with London Spirit hosting Trent Rockets at Lord's. That game will be played on Thursday, 14th August, and the first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 5.30 pm GMT. Till then, take care, cheers!
Welsh Fire's Chris Green is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his fine all-round performance. Green says that it was a lot of fun and the last two games here have been amazing and it was great to get the win. Adds that Tom Abell felt that 130 was defendable as the slower balls were useful and goes on to applaud Riley Meredith for the way he bowled. Further adds that when you have someone who bowls this quick, you want them on your side rather than facing them. Mentions that it was a more polished performance tonight and hopes that they can continue to enjoy their cricket.
... Time for the Presentation ...
Earlier in the game, Welsh Fire were asked to bat first but never quite found their rhythm. The early loss of Jonny Bairstow and the rest of the top order, followed by Smith after a brief flourish, left them reeling. At the halfway mark, they had crawled to 58/3, still searching for a foothold. While several batters got going, none managed to convert their starts with Tom Kohler-Cadmore's 26 as the top score. Late cameos from Chris Green and Saif Zaib gave the innings a much-needed lift, helping them reach 137. Manchester Originals were clinical with the ball, as Scott Currie and Josh Tongue picked up three wickets each, supported by tidy spells and a wicket each from Sonny Baker and Tom Hartley.
It appeared that once the ball lost its hardness, batting became evidently easier as the game progressed. Buttler and Gregory formed a responsible alliance and didn't let the loose balls go unpunished. But the game flipped once again with Chris Green fishing out both the set batters in the span of just five deliveries. From that point, the Originals collapsed badly from 103/4 to 112 all out in no time as Chris Green and David Payne ran through the lower order of Manchester Originals. But the destroyer in chief was Riley Meredith, who snagged a game-changing four-for with disciplined lines and lengths.
The new ball was made to talk by the Welsh Fire pacers. It bounced, kicked off and kept the batters on their toes early doors. Riley Meredith, consistent with the probing lines and lengths, badly dented the rivals by removing the Originals' top order, that too, in a single set, reducing them to 14/3. With the likes of Salt and Chapman into the hut cheaply, Jos Buttler counterattacked and kept fighting from one end. Klaasen had another off day with the bat and suddenly, the scorecard read 56/4 after his dismissal. At the halfway stage, Originals were still 80 runs adrift, in a dual task of stabilising their innings, and maintaining the scoring rate as well.
What a clinical bowling display from Welsh Fire to register their first win of the season! They were not only disciplined with the ball, but also displayed a great standard of fielding, with some sensational catches that flipped the game on its head. To be very fair, with 138 on the board, it felt a bit under par given the firepower in the Originals' ranks, but that was wiped off with some outstanding bowling by the Fire bowlers. Kudos to Chris Green. It was one of those days when everything he touched, turned to gold. First, played a cameo of 19 with the bat, and then backed it up with a three-for, including two stunning catches.
In over# 20
0W
0
Riley Meredith 9/4(3.2)
OUT! TIMBER! Well, that's one way to end proceedings and Riley Meredith sure enjoyed that one. A fast and furious yorker from Riley, right on the money and the ball tails back in a touch as well. Sonny Baker backs away to dig it out but is well beaten and the ball smashes into the stumps. Manchester Originals are bowled out for 112 and Welsh Fire win by 25 runs!
97
W
OUT! TIMBER! Well, that's one way to end proceedings and Riley Meredith sure enjoyed that one. A fast and furious yorker from Riley, right on the money and the ball tails back in a touch as well. Sonny Baker backs away to dig it out but is well beaten and the ball smashes into the stumps. Manchester Originals are bowled out for 112 and Welsh Fire win by 25 runs!
96
.
A quick delivery, hard length and over the stumps, Sonny Baker backs away to cut but misses.
Right. Manchester Originals need 26 runs off 5 balls. Riley Meredith to bowl the final set of the match. He is 3/9 so far off 15 balls, including 11 dots.
In over# 19
1
1
0W
1
1
David Payne 14/3(4)
95
1
Length ball on middle, swatted down to long on for a single.
94
1
Back of a length and outside off, tapped in front of point for a single.
OUT! CAUGHT! Wow, Welsh Fire have really turned it on in the field in the last few minutes, another stunning catch. Chris Green can do nothing wrong this evening. David Payne drags the length back and bowls it over middle. Noor Ahmad hangs back and goes after it and seems to have got a hold of the pull shot. The ball travels towards deep square leg where Chris Green runs back over and takes a superb catch, leaping backwards and manages to keep himself inside the ropes.
93
W
OUT! CAUGHT! Wow, Welsh Fire have really turned it on in the field in the last few minutes, another stunning catch. Chris Green can do nothing wrong this evening. David Payne drags the length back and bowls it over middle. Noor Ahmad hangs back and goes after it and seems to have got a hold of the pull shot. The ball travels towards deep square leg where Chris Green runs back over and takes a superb catch, leaping backwards and manages to keep himself inside the ropes.
92
1
Back of a length and outside off, pushed through covers for a single.
91
1
Slower, shorter and on the stumps, pulled away to deep mid-wicket for a single.