Southern Brave kept their flawless run in this season's The Hundred, securing a comfortable 24‑run win against Birmingham Phoenix at the iconic Southampton ground. The match reinforced Brave's dominance, marking their fourth consecutive victory and leaving Phoenix still searching for their inaugural triumph of the tournament. The game began with Phoenix electing to bowl first, hoping to restrict the Brave to a modest total on the expansive pitch. However, the Brave responded with a composed innings, eventually posting 140 runs for the loss of just three wickets.
Their chase later proved too much for the Phoenix, who could only muster 116 runs before being bowled out. Opening the batting, Lizelle Lee set the tone with an aggressive display in the powerplay, scoring a rapid 43 off 23 balls. Her innings featured the only two sixes of the match, each struck with authority and helping to keep the run rate well above the required level.
Supporting Lee, Maia Bouchier contributed a brisk 45 from 31 deliveries, playing a series of well‑timed boundaries that kept the scoreboard ticking. The partnership between Lee and Bouchier laid a solid foundation, allowing the middle order to finish the innings strongly. When the innings entered its final phase, Jemimah Rodrigues added valuable momentum. Rodrigues struck three fours in the last five balls, ensuring the Brave crossed the 140‑run mark with a comfortable cushion.
The final overs saw the Brave’s lower order add a few quick runs, bringing the total to 140/3, a score that placed significant pressure on the chasing side. Phoenix’s reply began positively, with Tammy Beaumont and Davina Perrin reaching 50 runs from 37 balls, showing intent and building a promising partnership.
Their early progress suggested that a chase was within reach, especially after a well‑timed strategic timeout that gave the team a chance to regroup. At that juncture, Phoenix required 54 runs from the remaining 30 balls, having lost Beaumont for a modest 22.
The turning point arrived when Alice Capsey, who had impressed earlier with her bowling, delivered a crucial wicket. Capsey bowled a slower ball to Lauren Bell, inducing a mistimed shot that was caught in the extra‑cover region on her ninth delivery. This wicket halted Phoenix’s momentum and set the tone for the remainder of the innings.
Soon after, Davina Perrin, who had been the backbone of the chase with a half‑century built on a 40‑ball effort, fell to a well‑executed delivery from Sarah Glenn. Perrin attempted to loft a leg‑break toward Maia Bouchier at long‑on but mistimed the shot, resulting in a simple catch.
Her dismissal effectively ended Phoenix’s hopes, as the required run rate surged and the batting side struggled to find partnerships. Sophie Molineux, leading the Brave’s bowling attack, claimed two wickets, bringing her tournament tally to seven. She worked in tandem with fellow left‑arm spinner Tilly Courten‑Coleman, applying consistent pressure that forced errors from the Phoenix batters.
Despite a brief resurgence from Ellyse Perry, who struck a couple of long‑handed boundaries, Phoenix could not bridge the gap and fell short by 24 runs. Post‑match, Brave captain Sophie Molineux praised her side’s collective effort. "Our bowlers have been outstanding; they’ve given us the breakthroughs we needed at key moments," she said.
"The batting unit delivered when it mattered, especially in the final overs, and the calm presence on the field has helped the whole team stay composed under pressure." Phoenix captain reflected on the challenge of playing with the new ball. "The ball behaved differently early on, coming off the wicket a bit easier, but as it softened it became tougher to handle," said Lizelle Lee, who also contributed as a match hero for the Brave. "Our batters managed to set a solid total, and that gave us the edge." Looking ahead, Manchester Super Giants will host Trent Rockets on Friday, with the women's fixture scheduled for 3 pm and the men's match following at 6:30 pm, both broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Fans can continue to follow The Hundred’s thrilling action, including upcoming auctions and squad announcements, as the competition runs from July 21 to August 16. The Brave’s unbeaten streak now stands at four matches, underscoring their consistency and depth across both batting and bowling departments. For Phoenix, the focus will shift to analyzing the shortcomings of their chase and finding ways to convert promising starts into winning totals as the tournament progresses.