When a side has as much competition for places as Australia's women's cricket team does, a chance to shine in front of the captain is one to take.
A trio of Australians had that opportunity in Welsh Fire's Hundred Women match against league leaders Southern Brave, captained by Australia skipper Sophie Molineux.
Of the three it was, ironically, Heather Graham, last capped nearly two years ago, who shone brightest.
Graham took 2-23 of her 20 balls, dismissing Brave's top scorers, South African Laura Wolvaardt (48 off 45) and India's Jeminah Rodrigues (25 off 21).
Chasing 123 to win in reply Fire were faltering before Graham led them to victory with an unbeaten 35 off 28 balls, striking the winning runs in a last-ball victory.
It was revenge for Brave's eight-run win earlier in the competition when Graham's 4-19 proved in vain.
Asked about holding her nerve Graham said: "I'm 30 now and I've enough experience under my belt. I've played a lot of years and a lot of tight games and you rely on those experiences."
"Credit to Heather she played an incredible innings to get us over the line," said teammate Georgia Wareham, Fire's new captain in the absence of the injured Kiwi Sophie Devine.
All-rounder Wareham followed 0-23 off her 20 balls with 16 runs off 20 but starred most in the field. She took three catches and ran out Molineux with a direct hit from mid-off for 12 off 11 balls.
Georgia Wareham takes a brilliant catch 🪣#TheHundred pic.twitter.com/hNuch8ek5v
— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 3, 2026
Opener Georgia Voll had a more modest impact making 11 off nine.
Molineux had opted to bat first after winning the toss in Cardiff but Brave were 1-1 after six balls with opener Lizelle Lee making her second duck in succession. Despite the efforts of Wolvaardt and Rodrigues 6-122 never looked enough.
But previously unbeaten Brave have made a habit of defending low totals and with young English bowlers Tilly Corteen-Coleman (3-27) and Izzy Wong (2-17) taking wickets at key moments Fire struggled.
Graham, who last month helped Durham reach the final of the Blast county competition, came in at 4-49 off 43 balls and anchored the chase keeping Fire just about on course.
The decisive ball was the penultimate one. With three needed off two Graham pushed to leg. Desperate to get back on strike she should have been run out as the throw came in over the stumps, but wicketkeeper Lee, who had already dropped Wareham on four and missed an easy stumping, completed her nightmare day by fumbling the throw, allowing Graham to complete her two.
Instead of a new batter coming to the crease needing one to tie Fire had the set batter and the scores level. With the field up Graham smacked the next ball through the covers to keep Brave's qualification hopes alive.
