(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Zak Crawley Stars as Northern Superchargers Cruise to Victory Over Welsh Fire
Published: August 8, 2025
Zak Crawley delivered a match-winning performance at a packed Headingley, smashing an unbeaten 63 off just 37 balls to guide Northern Superchargers to a commanding eight-wicket win over Welsh Fire in The Hundred 2025.
The England batter lit up the evening with five fours and four sixes, helping his side chase down the target of 144 with 11 balls to spare. The win marked a successful double for the Superchargers, following an earlier victory by their women’s team on the same day.
Crawley was well supported by Dawid Malan, who made a fluent 41, and captain Harry Brook, who finished unbeaten on 25. Brook sealed the win in style, sending the crowd into celebration with a first-ball six over mid-off.
Earlier in the day, Welsh Fire’s innings got off to a promising start as Jonny Bairstow and Steve Smith put on 62 for the opening stand, despite facing a few boos from the Headingley crowd. However, once Smith was bowled by Matthew Potts, the Fire struggled to build momentum and finished at 143-9 from their 100 balls.
Northern Superchargers’ bowlers kept things tight, taking regular wickets and applying pressure throughout the innings—setting up the perfect platform for Crawley and Co. to chase the total with confidence.
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Reflecting on the win, Crawley said:
“I loved it. The boys are great, and playing under Freddie [Andrew Flintoff] – the guy’s a legend. It’s an awesome place to play and a great wicket to bat on. We knew if we played strong shots, we could chase it, and it came off.”
He added:
“Dawid and I complemented each other well, hitting in different areas, and Brook came in and did what he does best. The bowlers were brilliant too – we stuck to our plans and restricted them to a chaseable total.”
With this strong start to their campaign, the Superchargers look like early contenders for success in The Hundred 2025. Fans at Headingley will be hoping for more fireworks as the tournament progresses.
