WEF VS LNS MATCH 6

Right then, that is it from the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, and we have seen four amazing games take place across the Men's and Women's Hundred competition and in Cardiff, it was the London Spirit who inflicted double defeat on the home side. Next up, there's another double header lined up in the Men's competition on Sunday, 10th August. First up, it will be Southern Brave taking on Birmingham Phoenix, after which Trent Rockets will face off against Northern Superchargers. So, brace yourselves for another action-packed day, and the first Men's game will begin at 7 pm IST (1.30 pm GMT), but as usual, you can join us a lot sooner for the build-up. Cheers!

David Warner is adjudged the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his impressive match-winning fifty. He starts by praising Jonny Bairstow for his exceptional knock that took Welsh Fire very close to the target. Admits that it was a tough contest, especially in the last 30 balls, and credits his team for executing their plans well. Adds that the pitch was slow and holding earlier, but got easier under the lights, making shot-making more possible later on. Warner says that he’s enjoying The Hundred format and finally getting the hang of it, while also loving the electric atmosphere from the crowd. Mentions that the team is gelling together as an energetic bunch, and with two away games coming up, everyone is excited and ready for the challenge.

The Presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, Tom Abell asked the London Spirit to bat first on a surface that seemed difficult to start on. The Spirit batters faced a few difficulties, but every now and then, they managed to find the fence. David Warner played an anchoring knock, allowing the likes of Jamie Smith and Ashton Turner to come in and play quick cameos. Warner took the mantle in his hands in the latter stages and struck a solid 70 off 45 balls to take his side past 160. As for Welsh Fire, David Payne and Riley Meredith bowled pretty well and were a bit unlucky as Josh Hull picked up a couple of wickets, but he was expensive, as was Chris Green.

Well, Welsh Fire left it too late, but when it was on, it was scintillating from Jonny Bairstow, and he played a blinder of a knock and nearly pulled off one of the biggest heists in The Hundred. Fire are heavily reliant on their opening duo, and once Steve Smith fell early, the batting lineup collapsed, and it seemed like a matter of time before they were bowled out. However, Bairstow weathered the storm and got ample support from Chris Green as they ended up stitching together an unbeaten 100-run partnership, but it did go in vain.

London Spirit had the runs on the board and all they needed were a couple of wickets in the Powerplay to get control of the game. They got that and more in the first half of the chase and had the opposition on the ropes at 55/6 in 47 balls. All the bowlers got into the mix and picked up at least a wicket each, but it was Daniel Worrall who got two. However, in the latter half of the chase, they couldn't create any chances and started to concede boundaries regularly. It got pretty close at the death, and one more six could have seen this match having a different outcome.

An absolute humdinger of a game, but just like it did earlier in the day in Cardiff, another game ends in defeat for the home team. In the Women's game, it was Welsh Fire who let things slip and in the Men's game, they nearly pulled off an unlikely heist, but it wasn't meant to be. London Spirit showed nerves of steel in the first game, and they have now managed to do enough to get over the line and pick up their first win in the Men's competition.

London Spirit win by 8 runs as they managed to hold their nerve and clinched a victory. Jonny Bairstow tried everything he could have, but couldn't take his team over the line. On a length and wide outside off, Jonny makes room and only manages to push it back to the left of the bowler. An amazing match which went down to the wire.

SIX! CLOBBERED! Short of a length and around middle, Jonny Bairstow goes deep in his crease, gets on top of the bounce and pulls it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Pace-off, back of a length and around leg, Jonny Bairstow backs away and turns it towards deep square leg and collects two more runs. That should do it for the Spirit as the Fire need 15 off the last two balls.

Amazing bowling! A bit shorter and wide outside off, Jonny has to reach out as he only manages to push it off the cue end of the bat to mid off. He takes a few steps forward and calls Green but then decides not to take the single and sends Green back.

Nagging length and around off, Jonny Bairstow backs away and swats it on the bounce to mid off. Instantly, signals 'No' for the single.

Luke Wood will bowl the final set of five. He's gone for 27 runs so far in his 15 balls as the Fire require 17 runs off the final set.

A low full toss, on the pads, Green all manages to flick it off the inner half of the bat to deep square leg for one only. Welsh Fire need 17 runs off the final 5 balls. So it has come down to the wire. Who would have thought this around 30 balls ago? What an inning from Jonny Bairstow this has been so far. Can he take his team home in front of the home crowd?

Oh, that ball nearly cleans up Chris Green and he somehow manages to deflect it away from the stumps as well. The physio comes out to perform a concussion check. Green looks fine but the Spirit will be happy to slow things down, taking time off the game and halting the momentum.

OUCH! NASTY! Short of a length and angling in, around middle, Chris Green remains deep in his crease and looks to pull it but the ball gets big on him and gets an extra bounce. The ball goes above the bat and hits him on his helmet as he has closed his eyes off the ball during the shot. The ball nearly drops back onto the stumps and the replays show that Green almost tried to push it away with his right hand before eventually hitting it away with the pads. The umpire immediately calls for the physio to have a concussion check.

Short and around off, pace-off again, Jonny swats it to deep square leg for one.