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After an underwhelming The Hundred 2025 opener, David Warner starred with an unbeaten 45-ball 70 as London Spirit opened their win account in a thrilling showdown against Welsh Fire at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff on August 9. Jonny Bairstow lacked support from his teammates as his unbeaten 50-ball 86 went in vain in the run chase.
Warner plays the anchor role
Bairstow won the toss and opted to bowl first. Skipper Kane Williamson and Warner did not get off to a flying start. On the 34th ball, Josh Hull got the wicket of Williamson for a run-a-ball 14. Jamie Smith got an early reprieve as his catch was dropped by Bairstow. Warner targeted Chris Green and hit him for two sixes. Jamie Smith joined the onslaught too and smashed two sixes, one of those against Hull. But, the pacer managed to dismiss the England wicketkeeper-batter for a 14-ball 26.
Ashton Turner hit four fours before losing his wicket to Riley Meredith. Warner continued to play the anchor role. He reached his fifty off the 80th ball of the innings. Then, he got a reprieve as Paul Walter dropped a catch off his own bowling. Sean Dickson contributed with a nine-ball 14 cameo before losing his wicket to David Payne. The pacer got rid of Jamie Overton as well. London Spirit could not finish with a flourish but managed to post 163/5. Warner hit eight fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 70.
Welsh Fire suffer epic collapse
In the run chase, Bairstow kept running out of the partners. The first to fall was Australia's Steve Smith to Richard Gleeson. Luke Wells hit three fours but fell to Daniel Worrall as he mistimed a pull shot. Luke Wood got into the act as Tom Abell was caught at deep square fielder Turner. Tom Kohler-Cadmore failed to make an impact as Overton dismissed him for a single-digit score with a short delivery. Worrall returned to knock over Saif Zaib. Welsh Fire were 39/5 after 33 balls. Walter could not last long at the crease either. He got caught at mid-wicket off left-arm spinner Liam Dawson's bowling.
Bairstow’s late charge not enough
As the slog overs approached, Bairstow went berserk, hitting Wood for two sixes and a four. Chris Green provided much-needed support from the other end. Bairstow reached his fifty with a four off Dawson off the 83rd ball of the innings. He followed it up with a six. Overton was at the receiving end as well with Bairstow smashing two consecutive sixes. But, Wood held his nerves to keep Welsh Fire at bay. Bairstow hit six sixes and as many fours in his unbeaten 50-ball 86. On the other end, Green scored 32 runs from 21 balls, including two fours and a six. They shared a 100-run partnership from 53 balls for the seventh wicket but it wasn't enough to take Welsh Fire over the line.
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