Southern Brave continued their dominant run in The Hundred Women’s 2025, recording their seventh straight victory with a polished eight-wicket win over London Spirit. Chasing 126 for victory, Brave’s top order, led by Laura Wolvaardt’s unbeaten half-century and Maia Bouchier’s fluent knock, ensured a comfortable finish with six balls left unused, underlining once again why they sit firmly on top of the points table.
London Spirit, asked to set the target, never truly found momentum against a disciplined Brave attack. Kira Chathli (1 off 3) fell early to Lauren Bell, and Georgia Redmayne (14 off 13), after beginning briskly, perished to a caught-and-bowled dismissal from Mady Villiers. When Grace Harris (6 off 3) looked to impose herself but miscued straight to Maia Bouchier, Spirit were rocked at 36 for 3 in 34 balls, leaving their innings vulnerable to another collapse.
The one major resistance came from Cordelia Griffith, who played with maturity to steady the innings. Griffith struck 44 from 34 balls with four boundaries and two sixes, holding one end firmly even as wickets kept tumbling. She shared a useful stand with Charli Knott (36 off 26) that finally gave Spirit’s innings some substance.
Their 67-run partnership injected much-needed energy, pushing the total past 100 and threatening to set a competitive score. But Griffith’s dismissal, caught off Georgia Adams opened the door again.
Knott soon followed in an unfortunate fashion—run out via a sharp relay between Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Rhianna Southby—while the lower order failed to provide a late flourish. Issy Wong (0), Danielle Gibson (9 off 6), and Sarah Glenn (3 off 8) could not convert their starts, and captain Charlie Dean’s unbeaten 7 off 5 was too little, too late. The innings closed at 125/8 from 100 balls, a total that felt under-par against Braves batting depth.
For Southern Brave, the bowlers executed their roles with precision. Mady Villiers (3/38 from 20 balls) provided key breakthroughs in the powerplay and the middle overs, while Lauren Bell (1/18 off 20) and Sophie Devine (0/22 off 20) maintained tight control. The real game-changers, however, were the shorter spells—Georgia Adams (1/17 from 10) and Chloe Tryon (1/8 from 10) ensured Spirit never found acceleration at the death, restricting them to a modest total.
The chase began with a minor hiccup when Danni Wyatt-Hodge (8 off 5) was trapped lbw by Issy Wong in just the eighth ball of the innings. At 13 for 1, Brave needed composure, and they found it in the experienced hands of Laura Wolvaardt and the stylish Maia Bouchier.
Bouchier took on the role of aggressor, timing her shots sweetly and picking the gaps with precision. Her 43 off 34 balls set the tempo for the chase, ensuring the required rate never crept above control. At the other end, Wolvaardt was her usual picture of grace and calculation.
Her unbeaten 56 from 40 deliveries, decorated with four boundaries and two sixes, was the standout knock of the match. Together, she and Bouchier added 95 runs for the second wicket, effectively sealing the contest before Bouchier finally fell at 108, caught by Eva Gray off Issy Wong.
Wolvaardt, however, was unflappable, guiding Brave home alongside Sophie Devine (12* off 15). The pair ensured no late drama unfolded, bringing up the target at 126/2 in 94 balls, six deliveries remaining unused.
While the Brave batters were methodical, London Spirit’s bowling lacked the penetration needed to create sustained pressure. Issy Wong (2/34 from 20 balls) was the lone wicket-taker, dismissing both Wyatt-Hodge and Bouchier.
This win marked Southern Brave’s seventh consecutive victory, a streak that epitomises their all-round balance and confidence. With their bowlers keeping opposition sides in check and their batters led by the calm authority of Wolvaardt and the flair of Bouchier, they continue to look like the team to beat in the competition.
