On behalf of Ranjith, Sudeep, Valkerie and Matt, this is Rvel signing off. The second men's game is about to start and you won't want to miss the all-important last few fixtures of the group stage. Follow it here

Match abandoned as there is not enough time for ground-staff to clear it up before 18:10

James Vince: Bowling first, they probably got away from us little it, sloppy in the field particularly. good players got going,(Can't) shut them down, It's gonna be a tough ask to chase that down, we had a few messages saying weather might be on its way so just trying to weigh out how to approach first 25 balls, thankfully the rain came just in time. (on his dismissal) obviously 25 balls constitute a game, so at the start of that set, I found out I think it was 42 or 43 after 25 balls, think I left about 22 off 10 balls, had a message that the the game wasn't going to go too much further, trying to get to 43-run mark in case we did stay out there till 25 ball delivered. On the whole, bowling gets a lot of credit because it's due, quality bowlers, experienced bowlers, well known around the world...I think the batting goes under the radar a little bit, ideally we'd like few more guys in form, on the whole, we have been reasonably consistent

Oh dear, that will be a tough pill to swallow for the Welsh Fire, who ticked all the boxes with the bat and had the upper hand in this game. However, it was overcast throughout the day, and with relentless rain pouring down, the prospects of a timely restart were near impossible. It's a sad end for the Fire, but Brave will be pretty chuffed about it--they have locked in a spot in the top three. Vince can smile now. Teams will split the points

It continues to rain with no signs of abating; it looks bleak out there, but we're still 40 minutes away from the cut-off time, so there's a chance to sneak in nine more deliveries or maybe I'm being too optimistic

Craig: "Disappointing the umpires took the teams off when they did especially when the rain was no heavier and we were only 9 balls from a result. Robbed Welsh Fire of a deserved win. " Well, Cricket can be unfair sometimes, just like life. Weather is always a huge factor when it comes to cricket in the UK. You can't rule it out

DaWolf: "Why is the latest time to restart so early? It doesn't feel like a particularly long rain delay, and it's still early in the evening."

Gav: "18.10 latest time. Don't help themselves much to get a game. I get there's another game starting but surely you give it longer to try get a result "

18:10 is the latest possible restart time to complete the 25 balls needed

5:10pm: Valkerie Baynes has got an update for us: "Rain has gotten worse at Southampton. Bowlers' run-ups under cover now and fans trying to tough it out in the stands up to this point are making their way under cover"

Got to feel for Vince because he was having a long chat with the on-field umpires before this delivery, perhaps trying to figure out the DLS equation, and that might have distracted him. Maybe the umpires needed to be more proactive once the rain started to get heavier but the damage is done as far as Brave are concerned. The hover cover is out

mohit: "If the match gets washed out, who wins? Is there a 5-over minimum requirement here as well? 25 is the minimum requirement and Brave will make it to the playoffs if there's no result

DaWolf: "Hopefully the rain stops long enough to get a result. Only another 9 balls needed. After that batting effort, Fire deserve the win."

3.1
W
Henry to Vince, OUT, Over the wicket, wrecks his stumps; lapse of concentration; rain getting in his mind? Hard length, curls back into middle and he tried to launch it over midwicket, ball kept a touch low and rattled the stumps, that's a massive wicket because he was getting into his groove and timing the ball exquisitely and needed to carry on, but probably had a drop in focus with the rain situation but, come to think of it, you got to be ready when the bowler is ready

JM Vince b Henry 19 (13m 8b 4x4 0x6) SR: 237.50

Ground staff have taken their positions outside the rope. It's still very overcast and now it has started to rain

END OF OVER:
3 | 17 Runs | SB-M: 21/1 (161 runs required from 17 overs, RR: 7.00, RRR: 9.47)

  • James Vince19 (7b)
  • Leus du Plooy1 (6b)
  • David Willey1.5-0-20-1
  • Matt Henry0.5-0-1-0
2.5
4
Willey to Vince, FOUR, Back-to-back boundaries; slower on a length outside off, rocks back and pummels it downtown at long-on for a blistering boundary, that's more like it, Vince is not going to die wondering
2.4
4
Willey to Vince, FOUR, Pace off shorter delivery on middle, picked it early, swivelled and puts it into the gap at deep fine for a four; excellent timing and placement, Willey allowing him to get off the hook, trying too many things
2.3
0
Willey to Vince, no run, On a length and arcing across off, opens the blade and whisks it down to point
2.2
4
Willey to Vince, FOUR, Slung down full towards leg, stands upright and plays a picturesque straight drive to long-on for a four. No violence, pure timing, joy to watch!
2.1
4
Willey to Vince, FOUR, Banged in shortish and angled across off, clears front leg and crunched a pull and finds the gap at midwicket for a four
2.1
1w
Willey to Vince, 1 wide, Charging in from over the wicket, short and well wide of the marker on off, big wide

END OF OVER:
2 | 1 Run | SB-M: 4/1 (178 runs required from 18 overs, RR: 2.00, RRR: 9.88)

  • Leus du Plooy1 (6b)
  • James Vince3 (2b)
  • Matt Henry0.5-0-1-0
  • David Willey0.5-0-3-1
1.5
0
Henry to du Plooy, no run, Excellent carry from an irksome line in the channel, still unable to lay bat on it, plugging away in the channel and climbing off shorter length, too good for thee
1.4
0
Henry to du Plooy, no run, Another massive swing and a miss, but this is right approach. Short and slants in at middle, skips down and threw the kitchen sink
1.3
0
Henry to du Plooy, no run, Shortens his length, snaked it in from wide of off, du Plooy shuffles across to scoop and can't connect, it's pacy and nibbling around
1.2
0
Henry to du Plooy, no run, Slammed in at shorter length and it roars back in the gate from round the wicket angle, late attempt to cut that one
1.1
1
Henry to Vince, 1 run, Touch short and slightly leg-sidish, helped around the leg side

END OF OVER:
1 | 3 Runs 1 Wkt | SB-M: 3/1 (179 runs required from 19 overs, RR: 3.00, RRR: 9.42)

  • James Vince2 (1b)
  • Leus du Plooy1 (2b)
  • David Willey0.5-0-3-1
0.5
2
Willey to Vince, 2 runs, Back of a length, angling across middle and leg, decent line, squeezed out to deep point. Willey breathed fire in first set
0.4
1
Willey to du Plooy, 1 run, Shorter and angled in as he backs away, squirted out to short cover and hurtles down the pitch
0.3
0
Willey to du Plooy, no run, Hits the deck hard and it's arcing away from middle, feebly and diffidently squirted out to short of point. Tidy start from Willey
0.2
W
Willey to Davies, OUT, Disturbed the furniture! Stands firm deep in his crease, jams the bat down and it's too close to cut, probing line and length on off-stump, ends up making a horrible mess of his stumps, chopped on, and looks crestfallen, worst possible start for Brave

AL Davies b Willey 0 (1m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

0.1
0
Willey to Davies, no run, Over the wicket, short of a length, tight at middle, defended solidly to cover. Tight start from Willey, right on money

Big total, so an all-out attack approach is needed to even get close to this target. No point hanging around; they've got to charge and make use of the powerplay