England seamer Lauren Bell starred as Southern Brave defeated Welsh Fire at the Utilita Bowl to become the first team to win every group stage match in a single campaign in The Hundred.
The Brave’s bid to make history – no women’s or men’s team had previously won all eight group games in the competition – appeared in doubt after they were restricted to 106 for eight.
Captain Georgia Adams made an unbeaten 30 to get them beyond three figures but the rock-bottom Fire appeared well-poised for only the second win of their campaign after reaching 50 for one.
8 matches, 8 wins.
— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 28, 2025
It's a clean sweep for Southern Brave women in the group stage 🧹#TheHundred pic.twitter.com/KlXOsmOoMm
But Bell snaring England team-mate Tammy Beaumont and Australia all-rounder Jess Jonassen in the same set was the start of a collapse that saw the Fire lose eight wickets for 27 runs.
Bell claimed another couple of wickets to finish with outstanding figures of four for six from her 20-ball allotment – the third best in the tournament’s history – as the Fire posted 77 for nine.
The Brave’s 29-run win rubberstamps top spot and they will be heavy favourites in Sunday’s final at Lord’s, where they will face either Northern Superchargers or defending champions London Spirit.
In the men’s dead rubber, the Brave finished fourth after edging out the Fire, who like their female counterparts end the campaign bottom of the standings.
Jason Roy 😯
— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 28, 2025
Craig Overton gets another wicket in his first five balls, and it's the big one of Steve Smith 🌟#TheHundred pic.twitter.com/DKmbbJujAE
Former England opener Jason Roy underpinned the Brave’s 167 for seven with 70 off 39 balls before Craig Overton claimed three wickets, including Australia’s Steve Smith, as the Fire slipped to 51 for four.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore thrashed 84 off 46 deliveries, which included seven sixes, but the Fire’s hopes were all but extinguished when he dragged a slower delivery from Jordan Thompson on to his stumps.
Needing six off the last delivery, Chris Green could only dig an excellently directed yorker out for a single as the Brave sealed a four-run victory.
