Welsh Fire vs London Spirit - London Spirit won by 6 runs

London Spirit won by 6 runs in the 31st match of 34 in The Hundred 2026 at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. David Willey delivered a match-defining all-round performance – 3/20 from 3.2 overs with the ball and a crucial 1 with the bat – to guide London Spirit to a nervy win that keeps their playoff hopes alive. Welsh Fire remain in 5th place (4W 3L, 16pts) but saw their momentum stall, while Spirit climb to 7th (2W 5L, 8pts) with a vital victory.

London Spirit Post 131

Welsh Fire won the toss and elected to bowl first. Jonny Bairstow provided the early spark with 34 off 19 balls (2 fours, 3 sixes) at a strike rate of 179, but Welsh Fire‘s bowling attack choked the middle overs effectively. Liam Livingstone fell for just 4 at 34/3 in the 5th over, and Dewald Brevis managed only 16 at 80/4 in the 12th.

James Coles steadied the ship with 29 off 22 (2 fours, 1 six), building a crucial 23-run stand with Joseph Moores (11 off 8, 1 six). But the real acceleration came from Jamie Overton, who smashed 21 off just 11 balls (3 fours, 1 six) at a strike rate of 191 to push Spirit to 131 all out in 16.4 overs. Chris Woakes was the standout bowler for Welsh Fire, taking 2/18 from 3.2 overs at an economy of 0.9, while Marco Jansen claimed 2/16 from 3.2 and Lockie Ferguson took 2/31 from 3.2.

Welsh Fire’s Chase Falls Short

Welsh Fire started their chase positively, with Philip Salt striking 26 off 21 (3 fours) to lay a platform. But Matthew Short was dismissed for a duck at 1/2 in the opening over, and the pressure mounted quickly. Joe Root anchored the middle overs with a measured 31 off 31 (1 six), building a 47-run stand with Jordan Cox to keep Welsh Fire in the hunt.

Cox then took over, smashing 44 off 28 balls (3 fours, 2 sixes) at a strike rate of 157 to bring Welsh Fire within touching distance at 117/4 in the 18th over. But David Willey‘s death bowling proved decisive. Rachin Ravindra fell for 9 at 118/5 in the 19th over, Tom Kohler-Cadmore was dismissed for a duck at 117/6, and Marco Jansen managed just 1 at 125/7. Chris Woakes hit 7 off 2 (1 six) in the final over, but it proved too little too late. Welsh Fire finished on 125/7, falling 6 runs short.

David Willey was named Man of the Match for his 3/20 from 3.2 overs, a masterclass in death bowling. Adam Milne took 2/23 from 3.2 overs, while Henry Crocombe claimed 1/26 from 3.2 and James Coles took 1/21 from 2.3.

Statz MVP: Jordan Cox (Statz Rating: 84.49)

Jordan Cox earns the Statz MVP award with a rating of 84.49 – the highest of the evening. His 44 off 28 balls (3 fours, 2 sixes) at a strike rate of 157 came at a critical juncture in Welsh Fire‘s chase, nearly single-handedly bringing his side within reach of victory. Though the chase fell short, Cox’s aggressive intent and timing were the standout batting display of the match.

Top 5 Statz Ratings

• Jordan Cox (WF) – Statz Rating: 84.49 | 44 off 28 (SR 157, 3 fours, 2 sixes) – Explosive chase innings that nearly won the match.
• Chris Woakes (WF) – Statz Rating: 83.78 | 2/18 from 3.2 overs (economy 0.9) – Suffocating bowling in the powerplay and middle overs.
• David Willey (LS) – Statz Rating: 81.82 | 3/20 from 3.2 overs (economy 6.25) – Match-winning death bowling under pressure.
• Marco Jansen (WF) – Statz Rating: 79.39 | 2/16 from 3.2 overs (economy 0.8) – Economical spell in the opening phase.
• Jonny Bairstow (LS) – Statz Rating: 74.78 | 34 off 19 (SR 179, 2 fours, 3 sixes) – Explosive start that set the tone for Spirit’s innings.

Turning Point

The match pivoted when Rachin Ravindra was caught for 9 at 118/5 in the 19th over. Welsh Fire had clawed their way back to needing just 14 off 12 balls with Jordan Cox still at the crease, but Ravindra’s dismissal exposed the lower order. David Willey‘s death bowling then sealed the outcome, removing Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Marco Jansen in quick succession to snuff out any hope of a miraculous finish.

Match Context

This was the 31st match of 34 in The Hundred 2026 group stage. London Spirit (7th, 2W 5L, 8pts) pick up a crucial win to keep their playoff hopes flickering, though they remain in the bottom half of the table. Welsh Fire (5th, 4W 3L, 16pts) will rue a missed opportunity – they were within touching distance but couldn’t quite close out the chase. See the full scorecard on Statz for the complete breakdown, and check out the bet builder for all the match stats.