Cartwright leads the way as Brave secure narrow win

Hilton Cartwright's whirlwind 19-ball 51 turned a faltering Southern Brave innings into a match-winning total as the visitors edged Welsh Fire by 4 runs in a low-scoring clash at Sophia Gardens. On a surface that kept the quicks interested throughout, Cartwright's assault in the death lifted Brave to 129 for 8, before their bowlers, led by Jofra Archer's three-wicket haul, defended it with discipline and composure.

Asked to bat first, Brave lost wickets at regular intervals and struggled to build momentum. They started cautiously, with skipper James Vince anchoring the top order. He compiled 29 off 26, striking four boundaries, but fell before he could accelerate. Wickets around him meant the Fire bowlers held control for large parts of the innings. Matt Henry struck early with the new ball, returning outstanding figures of 2 for 5 in his 20 deliveries, finishing his quota inside the first 40 balls of the innings.

At 71 for 5, the visitors appeared to be headed for a below-par score. That's when Cartwright launched a fierce counterattack, taking on the seamers with clean strikes down the ground and over midwicket. His knock, laced with three fours and five sixes, shifted the pressure back on Fire and ensured Brave crossed 120 - a total that suddenly looked competitive given the conditions.

The Fire reply began positively as Jonny Bairstow struck 4 boundaries and a six. Although he fell to Craig Overton, Steve Smith managed three fours to carry forward the good work. But the chase received a double jolt when Archer accounted for Smith's wicket and followed it up by sending Luke Wells back. Chris Jordan then picked up Tom Abell's wicket, leaving Fire at 50 for 4.

A 32-run stand between Saif Zaib and Tom Kohler-Cadmore steadied the innings for Fire but Brave bounced back through quick strikes from James Coles, Overton and Archer, reducing Fire to 116 for 8, with 14 more needed off 8 balls. It came down to 12 off 5 and Jordan held his nerve in the final set, conceding only 7 as Brave pulled off a thrilling win.

With this win, Brave strengthened their position in the mid-table scramble (3 wins out of 6), while Fire's hopes of staying alive in the competition took another hit as they remained at the bottom with a solitary victory in five attempts.

Brief scores: Southern Brave 129/8 in 100 balls (Hilton Cartwright 51*, James Vince 29; Matt Henry 2-5, Chris Green 2-24) beat Welsh Fire 125/8 in 100 balls (Tom Kohler-Cadmore 25, Jonny Bairstow 22; Jofra Archer 3-20, James Coles 2-10) by 4 runs.