SOB VS WEF MATCH 1

That’s it from this game then! Quite a one-sided affair to begin this year’s tournament. Let us hope we have a better fight between bat and ball on the 4th of August. It is the London derby as Oval Invincibles take on London Spirit at the Kennington Oval in London. That game begins at 11.00 pm IST (5.30 pm GMT) but our build-up will begin much sooner. Do join us then, take care and goodbye!

James Vince (71* off 41 balls), the Southern Brave skipper is the HERO OF THE MATCH for his match-winning innings. Vince says that it was nice to get a win and the bowlers did the job for them. Says that the game plan was simple and that was too not early wickets and they got the partnership up top. Adds that taking regular wickets adds a bit of pressure time-wise but the bowlers were excellent. Says that it got better for batting under lights. Mentions that the bowlers bowled really well and even when they were missing a few players, they did well. Ends by saying that last year they won their games at home and it is a nice start this time around as well.

Earlier in the game, James Vince won the toss and put Welsh Fire into bat. This proved to be an excellent decision as the new-ball bowlers took advantage of the fresh pitch and put the opposition on the back foot right away. Craig Overton was excellent with the ball for Southern Brave and he was well supported by the rest of the pack. The batting from Welsh Fire lacked flow and only Ben Duckett notched up some valuable runs in the middle. Having a small target to chase down, the Southern Brave openers tried to put away the bad balls without losing a wicket and they did just that. The Welsh Fire bowlers never really had a chance to get their team back in the game and it was all over before they knew it.

Welsh Fire did not turn up for this game! Their batting was poor in the first half and the bowlers did not have a lot to defend. Also, the wicket got a lot easier to bat on but Welsh Fire will be disappointed they failed to show any kind of fight in the second half. Only Jake Ball got a consolation wicket with everyone else being taken to the cleaners. A lot to ponder upon for the rest of the season for Welsh Fire.

Quite an easy win in the end for the defending champions! This was never in doubt once they restricted Welsh Fire to below 110 courtesy of a combined bowling effort. Then, it was their openers who played their part, they batted sensibly and put any chance of an upset aside. Alex Davies fell but Marcus Stoinis and James Vince ensured there were no more wickets to fall. The skipper, Vince, was the star with the bat with a superb unbeaten knock of 71 runs. A thumping win for the champions to begin their campaign.

NO BALL! That's it! The reigning champions have won the tournament opener. This is banged in halfway down the track and bounces over the batter's head. James Vince looks to take it on but it is just too high. No ball signaled by the umpire and Southern Brave win the match by 9 wickets!

FOUR! Scores are now level! Short of a length and around middle, James Vince hangs deep and pulls it away hard and to the right of the man at deep square leg for a boundary.

Shorter and slower, around off, Stoinis mistimes the pull shot towards wide mid on for a single.

Pitched up, around off and a bit slower as well. Vince chips it wide of the man at extra cover and picks up a single towards mid off.

Around the top of off, played off the back foot and straight towards point.

Short again and over off, Marcus Stoinis plays a controlled pull shot down to deep mid-wicket for just a single.

Banged in short and over off, this is pulled down to deep square leg for one. The 100 is now up for Southern Brave.

Excellent running! Good length, over middle, Vince just dabs it towards the vacant mid-wicket region and races back for two.

Length now, around off, Stoinis looks to pull but gets an inside edge. The ball then goes off the thigh pads and towards the keeper who fumbles, allowing the batters to scamper through for a run.

Payne comes from around the stumps and angles it full and into middle. Marcus Stoinis stands tall and drills it towards mid on.

Two more! Around middle and leg, this is tucked away 'round the corner for a couple of runs. 12 more required now.