9.08pm That's your lot for tonight. A fine day to be Brave. From Miller, Valkerie, PDP, Ranjith and Matt Roller at the Ageas, thanks and goodnight!
9.02pm Well, that was as easy as the margin of victory makes it seem. Eight wickets, with 13 balls to spare, and Brave vault to the top of the table (when it updates...), with Fire condemned to the also-rans. Fifties from Quinton de Kock and James Vince, captain and senior player, and a turbo-charged opening gambit from Paul Stirling and, well, that was the game sealed. Mills and Jordan were once again outstanding at the death. It's been a good day for the home side, with the women confirmed in the final on August 21, and the men almost there too.
Quinton de Kock is the Match Hero. "We needed this win, an important game for us, glad to get over the line. I wasn't getting much of a chance [in the Powerplay] but I kept going on that wicket, patience was needed there. Nice to get over the line and get some runs and get the team a win. Enjoying my cricket in a new format, new country, new team-mates. We read the wicket and play the situation."
Craig: "QDK- what a box office player! Worth the admission fee alone to watch him bat." Indeed. And to think he was a replacement for Warner. Not a bad signing all told!
END OF OVER:17 | 12 Runs | SB-M: 142/2 (3 runs required from 15 balls, RR: 8.35, RRR: 1.00)
- Alex Davies14 (8b)
- Quinton de Kock56 (31b)
- Luke Fletcher2.5-0-24-1
- Qais Ahmad3.5-0-33-1
Celine : "A win here now and Brave will be on top of the Table!" I suspect that's a given...
Rose: "I personally think Welsh Fire should be Western not Welsh and based between Bristol and Cardiff - otherwise Wales might be stretched (given the teams are nominally based on counties). If we want more teams, a friend of mine suggested adding in the Dutch, Irish and Scottish teams (like the old 40 over comp) which is a solid idea" I think the ECB gambled on finally unlocking the latent Welsh interest in cricket, and have broadly discovered it's not quite as rich a seam as they thought!
HarryFD: "Al Davies is one of those that comes under the "busy" category isn't he. Would be great to see him bat with Warner in future editions, their running would be immense. "
END OF OVER:16 | 15 Runs | SB-M: 130/2 (15 runs required from 20 balls, RR: 8.12, RRR: 3.75)
- Quinton de Kock49 (28b)
- Alex Davies9 (6b)
- Qais Ahmad3.5-0-33-1
- Graeme White2.5-0-21-0
I don't think there's any coming back from that tenderising
Qais is back. A big five balls...