Southern Brave extend perfect start with thrilling one-run win

A spectacular fightback with the ball saw Southern Brave make it three in three with a narrow 1-run victory over winless MI London, extending their dominance at the top of the points table. Chasing a sub-par 126, MI seemed well on course for their first win of the season but Danni Wyatt-Hodge's unbeaten fifty couldn't push them over the line.

Put in to bat first, Brave put on 126 runs with handy 30-plus contributions from three of their top-four.However, regular strikes on either side of the 60-run stand between Jemimah Rodrigues and Laura Wolvaardt kept the run-scoring in check.The openers put on 22 runs in 20 balls before Tara Norris got MI the breakthrough with the wicket of Lizelle Lee. Maia Bouchier added another 22-run partnership with Wolvaardt before becoming Hayley Matthews' first victim on the day.

Wolvaardt and Player of the Match Rodrigues then combined for a 60-run stand that injected some momentum in the Brave innings. The Indian, in particular, was the aggressor, chipping in a brisk 32 off 22 with three boundaries. Matthews broke the stubborn stand, getting rid of Rodrigues to reduce the hosts to 104/3. The wicket sucked the momentum out as Matthews struck twice more to keep Brave to 126/7.

Brave did not get the early wickets they had hoped for. Matthews led with the bat as well, making 32 off 28 in a 42-run opening stand with Wyatt-Hodge. The senior opener took charge once Matthews was cleaned up by Issy Wong. She added 67 runs for the second-wicket partnership with skipper Hollie Armitage, contributing 40 off 27 to inject some momentum in the chase.

Sarah Glenn broke the threatening stand, and a superb display of death bowling from there on left MI short. MI promoted Chinelle Henry with a comfortable 18 needed off 15 deliveries but Brave's captain led from the front to dismiss the dangerous finisher cheaply. Brave conceded just one boundary at the backend, when MI's ask was 15 off nine and Lauren Bell held her nerve to defend seven off the last set to script a memorable win for the hosts.

Brief scores: Southern Brave 126/7 in 100 balls (Laura Wolvaardt 35, Jemimah Rodrigues 32, Maia Bouchier 31; Hayley Matthews 4-22) beat MI London 125/3 in 100 balls (Danni Wyatt-Hodge 52*, Hayley Matthews 32; Issy Wong 1-20)