Southern Brave Women held their nerve to defend 126 and kick off their Hundred campaign with an eight-run win over Welsh Fire Women.
Asked to bat, Brave recovered from an early wobble courtesy a composed 45* from Laura Wolvaardt and a brisk 22 off 16 from Sophie Molineux.
Brave, however, wrested control back when Jemimah Rodrigues effected a direct hit to run out Kemp, triggering a collapse.
Eight balls later, Molineux dismissed Sophie Devine to further dent the chase.
In the final set, Graham was bowled by Corteen-Coleman as Fire eventually fell eight runs short.
Southern Brave Women held their nerve to defend 126 and kick off their Hundred campaign with an eight-run win over Welsh Fire Women. Georgia Voll's 39-ball 52 kept Fire in the chase, but Brave struck at regular intervals and closed out the contest by restricting the hosts to 118 for 8 from their 100 balls.
Asked to bat, Brave recovered from an early wobble courtesy a composed 45* from Laura Wolvaardt and a brisk 22 off 16 from Sophie Molineux. Lizelle Lee had provided the early impetus with 31 from 26, but Heather Graham (4 for 19) dented the innings by removing Maia Bouchier and Lee before Sophia Smale dismissed Jemimah Rodrigues around the halfway mark.
Wolvaardt rebuilt through partnerships with Molineux and later Jodi Grewcock, Molineux striking four boundaries in her cameo to lift the scoring rate. Graham returned to remove Molineux and Sarah Glenn in the closing stages, but Wolvaardt batted through the innings to ensure Brave reached a competitive 126 for 7.
Fire's chase suffered an early setback when Sophie Molineux bowled Ella McCaughan inside the opening 10 balls, but Voll and Freya Kemp rebuilt with a 75-run stand that swung the momentum. Voll mixed placement with timing in her 39-ball fifty while Kemp made 39 off 29 to leave Fire well placed at 80 for 1 after 58 balls.
Brave, however, wrested control back when Jemimah Rodrigues effected a direct hit to run out Kemp, triggering a collapse. Eight balls later, Molineux dismissed Sophie Devine to further dent the chase.
Fire needed only 23 off the final 20 balls and looked favourites before the chase unravelled. Corteen-Coleman dismissed the well-set Voll for 52, before Lauren Bell removed Georgia Wareham and Em Arlott in the space of three balls. Molineux then chipped in with the wicket of Niamh Holland as Fire lost five wickets for six runs in the space of 13 balls and were left needing 13 off the final five deliveries.
In the final set, Graham was bowled by Corteen-Coleman as Fire eventually fell eight runs short. Bell finished with 3 for 16, Corteen-Coleman returned 2 for 22 while Molineux's 3 for 14 proved decisive.
