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Winless Welsh Fire Slump to Third Straight Defeat as Manchester Originals Cruise to Victory in Women’s Hundred 2025
Welsh Fire’s Women’s Hundred 2025 campaign went from bad to worse as they suffered a crushing seven-wicket defeat to Manchester Originals in Cardiff. The loss leaves Fire rooted to the bottom of the points table without a single win, while Originals climbed to fourth with their second victory of the season.
Manchester Originals Dominate from Start to Finish
Early Collapse for Welsh Fire
The Fire’s batting woes continued in front of their home crowd, as they crumbled to just 73/9 in their allotted 100 balls — a total that never looked competitive.
The innings began disastrously when Mahika Gaur produced a stunning opening burst, removing Sophia Dunkley (2) and captain Tammy Beaumont (0) within the first 10 balls. At 2/2, Fire desperately needed a stabilizing partnership, but while Georgia Elwiss and Hayley Matthews briefly steadied the innings, the pressure soon mounted again.
The breakthrough came when Sophie Ecclestone, England’s left-arm spin star, outfoxed both set batters in quick succession. Her clever changes of pace and angles proved too much for the Fire middle order.
Middle-Order Meltdown
If the early overs were bad, the middle period was disastrous for Welsh Fire. Lauren Filer tore through the heart of the batting lineup with a fiery three-wicket spell, dismissing Sarah Bryce (4), Emily Windsor (0), and Jess Jonassen.
From 54/3, the scoreboard quickly read 66/7, leaving the lower order with the impossible task of rebuilding. Kathryn Bryce then finished the job with two quick wickets — Katie George (2) and Freya Davies (4) — as Fire limped to their eventual total.
Steady Chase from Manchester Originals
Early Hiccups, Calm Finish
Chasing a modest 74, Originals found themselves in brief trouble at 13/2 after early wickets from Matthews and Davies, removing star batters Beth Mooney and Amelia Kerr cheaply.
The pressure was short-lived as Kathryn Bryce and Seren Smale constructed a patient and calculated partnership. The duo focused on rotating the strike and punishing loose deliveries while keeping the chase under control.
By the halfway mark, the score was 46/2, and with wickets in hand, the Originals were never in real danger. Bryce accelerated in the latter stages, falling for 45 just before the finish, while Smale’s unbeaten 20 guided the visitors home with 19 balls to spare.
Key Performances
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Lauren Filer: 3-8 (4 sets) – Match-winning middle-overs spell.
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Mahika Gaur: 2-10 – Early breakthroughs that set the tone.
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Kathryn Bryce: 45 runs & 2 wickets – All-round brilliance.
For more insights on The Hundred’s format and recent performances, check out our in-depth guide to The Hundred.
Looking Ahead
Welsh Fire’s hopes of making the top four are fading rapidly, and their batting unit faces serious questions. Meanwhile, Manchester Originals will look to build on this momentum in their push for the playoffs.
Fans can revisit previous match reports and detailed analysis in Women’s Hundred cricket coverage archive.
