Final result
Southern Brave won by 4 runs
Player of the match: HWR Cartwright
Result · The Hundred
Southern Brave vs Welsh Fire
Result · The Hundred
Venue par · 173Chase success · 53%POTM · HWR Cartwright
Match preview & overview
Southern Brave edge Welsh Fire by 4 runs in Cardiff thriller
Southern Brave beat Welsh Fire by 4 runs at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, on 20 August 2025. Brave posted a modest 129/8 from their 100 balls, a total that sat 44 runs below the ground's average first-innings score of 173. Welsh Fire's chase threatened to get there. A rapid powerplay of 50 runs gave the home side every reason for optimism. But the middle phase brought Welsh Fire's innings to a near standstill: 46 runs from 40 balls for the loss of 3 wickets. They needed 29 from the final phase and fell 4 short, finishing on 125/8. HWR Cartwright was named Player of the Match for Southern Brave.
For Welsh Fire, this was a match they looked odds-on to win at the halfway point of the chase. The Brave bowlers worked their way back into it in the middle overs, and despite Welsh Fire needing less than a run a ball at several stages, the total proved just out of reach.
Pitch report & venue insights
Sophia Gardens, Cardiff — 136-match sample
Aggregate conditions from 2005–2025. Numbers that tend to decide matches at this ground — par score, chase success, powerplay averages and toss bias.
136
T20 matches hosted
173
Avg 1st-innings score
158
Avg 2nd-innings score
53%
Chase success rate
45
Avg powerplay runs
69%
Toss-field rate
Key talking points
Moments the match hinged on
Headline angle
Brave win despite well-below-par total
Southern Brave posted 129/8, a score that sits 44 runs below Sophia Gardens' average first-innings score of 173. That Welsh Fire still couldn't get home underlines how much the chase unravelled in the middle phase, where the hosts managed only 46 runs for 3 wickets.
Angle 02
Powerplay contrast told the story
Angle 03
Cartwright named Player of the Match
Angle 04
Southern Brave's head-to-head dominance continues
Angle 05
Welsh Fire chasing struggles at home
Key players
Players who decided it
Southern Brave
HWR Cartwright
Southern Brave
N McAndrew
Welsh Fire
JJ Roy
Southern Brave
GP Swann
Betting & analytical angles
Angles the data surfaced
- In low-scoring matches at Sophia Gardens, top wicket-taker markets may offer more value than outright result lines, given how frequently games turn on one or two key spells.
- Sophia Gardens has an average death-overs score of 33, yet Brave posted 48 in that phase. Death-overs run markets in similar conditions could be worth monitoring.
- Welsh Fire's powerplay of 50 runs was well above the ground average of 46. Powerplay-run markets at this venue historically trend lower than bettors might expect based on recent fixtures.
- With eight wins from ten meetings for Southern Brave, the head-to-head record suggests outright markets on Welsh Fire at this venue may require a meaningful price differential to represent editorial interest.
For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.
Frequently asked
Questions about Southern Brave vs Welsh Fire
Who won the Southern Brave vs Welsh Fire Hundred match on 20 August 2025?
Southern Brave won by 4 runs at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. Brave posted 129/8 and Welsh Fire fell short on 125/8 despite a fast start to their chase.
Who was Player of the Match in the Welsh Fire vs Southern Brave game?
HWR Cartwright was named Player of the Match. He contributed to Brave's ability to defend what was a below-par total on a ground where teams have averaged 173 batting first.
What is the head-to-head record between Southern Brave and Welsh Fire?
Southern Brave have won 8 of the 10 meetings between the sides. Welsh Fire have one win and one match ended with no result. Brave have won their last three completed fixtures against Welsh Fire.
Where to watch Southern Brave and Welsh Fire in The Hundred?
The Hundred is broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket and BBC Two, with live streaming available via Sky Go and the BBC iPlayer. BBC Radio Test Match Special also covers selected fixtures.
How did the two teams' powerplays compare in the Cardiff match?
Southern Brave struggled early, scoring only 19 runs and losing 2 wickets in their powerplay. Welsh Fire's chase began far more aggressively with 50 runs in the powerplay, above Sophia Gardens' average of 46, but they could not sustain that momentum.
What is Sophia Gardens' average first-innings score in short-format cricket?
Across 136 matches at the ground, the average first-innings score is 173. Southern Brave's 129/8 was therefore well below par, making their 4-run victory over Welsh Fire all the more notable.
Photo credits (1)
- Jason Roy — photo by Joeyjackets, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source