Southern Brave continued their flawless run in this season's The Hundred, securing a comfortable 24‑run triumph over Birmingham Phoenix at the Southampton venue. The win marked their fourth successive success, keeping their unbeaten record intact, while Phoenix remain anchored at the bottom of the table, still searching for their inaugural victory. The match began with Phoenix electing to field first, hoping to restrict the Brave on the expansive Southampton pitch.
Their disciplined bowling limited the home side to a modest total of 140 runs. The Brave’s innings unfolded steadily, with key contributions from Lizelle Lee, who blasted a rapid 43 off just 23 balls during the powerplay, including the only two sixes of the game.
Her aggressive start set the tone and ensured the Brave posted a competitive score. Supporting Lee’s fireworks, Maia Bouchier added a brisk 45 from 31 deliveries, striking the ball hard and finding the boundary with regularity.
The lower order also contributed, most notably Jemimah Rodrigues, who accelerated in the final overs, hitting three fours in the last five balls to push the total beyond the 140‑run mark. The combination of power hitting and smart rotation of the strike left Phoenix with a target that, while attainable, required a disciplined chase. When Phoenix began their run chase, they opened strongly, reaching 50 runs off 37 balls thanks to a solid partnership between Tammy Beaumont and the young Davina Perrin.
Beaumont’s composed stroke play and Perrin’s confident hitting kept the required run rate within reach. However, a strategic timeout was called by the Phoenix side, after which the required rate spiked to 54 runs from the remaining 30 balls, following Beaumont’s dismissal for 22. The post‑timeout period proved to be the turning point.
Alice Capsey, who had impressed earlier with her bowling, delivered a crucial wicket by edging a slower ball from Lauren Bell to the extra‑cover region on her ninth delivery. This breakthrough set the tone for the remaining overs. Shortly thereafter, Perrin, who had been the backbone of the chase with a half‑century built on a 40‑ball effort, mis‑timed a lofted shot off Sarah Glenn’s leg‑break, offering a simple catch to Maia Bouchier at long‑on. Her dismissal effectively ended Phoenix’s momentum.
Sophie Molineux, the Brave’s captain, stepped up with the ball, claiming two vital wickets and bringing her tournament tally to seven. She worked in tandem with fellow left‑arm spinner Tilly Courten‑Coleman, applying relentless pressure that forced the Phoenix batters into defensive strokes.
Even a powerful cameo from Ellyse Perry, who struck a pair of long‑handed boundaries, could not bridge the widening gap. Phoenix eventually fell 24 runs short of the target. Post‑match, Brave captain Sophie Molineux praised her side’s balanced performance.
She highlighted the advantage of batting against the new ball, noting that it offered a little more movement early on, which the batters exploited effectively. Molineux also commended her bowlers, emphasizing that their disciplined lines and lengths were instrumental in dismantling the Phoenix chase.
She described the team’s unity and calm demeanor as key factors in navigating pressure situations. Phoenix captain, reflecting on the defeat, acknowledged the challenge of chasing a well‑set total on a large ground and expressed optimism that the team would learn from the experience. She pointed out that despite the loss, individual performances—particularly Beaumont’s steady start and Perrin’s aggressive half‑century—provided a foundation to build upon for future matches. The victory adds another chapter to the Brave’s impressive campaign, reinforcing their status as front‑runners in the women’s competition.
Their blend of explosive power hitting, strategic field placements, and disciplined bowling has created a formula that opponents find difficult to counter. As the tournament progresses, the Brave will aim to maintain their unbeaten streak, while Phoenix will look to regroup and find the consistency needed to climb out of the bottom‑of‑the‑table position. Off the field, the tournament continues to generate excitement across multiple platforms.
Fans can catch live coverage of upcoming fixtures, such as the Manchester Super Giants hosting the Trent Rockets, with women's and men's matches scheduled for 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. respectively on Sky Sports.
Additional content, including player auctions and behind‑the‑scenes features, remains available on the official Hundred streaming services, ensuring that supporters stay engaged throughout the competition’s July‑August window.