Birmingham Phoenix clinched their inaugural win in the 2026 women’s edition of The Hundred in spectacular fashion, edging out Welsh Fire with just one ball left on the clock while football star Jude Bellingham looked on from the stands. The Phoenix entered the match at Edgbaston perched at the bottom of the league table, having amassed only two points from their opening fixtures.
Welsh Fire won the toss and elected to bat, posting a total of 144 runs from their allotted 100 deliveries. The bulk of those runs came from Georgia Voll, who smashed 78 runs off just 55 balls, anchoring the Fire’s innings with a blend of power and precision. When the Phoenix’s turn came, the partnership between Elysse Perry and Alice Capsey proved decisive. Perry contributed a swift 68 runs without hitting a boundary, while Capsey added a solid 51, both innings built on aggressive stroke‑play and smart running between the wickets.
Their efforts kept Birmingham within striking distance, but the match remained finely balanced as they still required ten runs with three balls remaining. Perry then took matters into her own hands. She lofted a six over deep mid‑wicket to Heather Graham, followed by a four through point on the very next delivery, sealing a dramatic victory for the home side. In a post‑match interview with Sky Sports, Perry described the win as “a lovely home triumph with an amazing atmosphere.” She praised the team’s bowling performance that restricted the Fire early and highlighted the timing of their final assault: “We timed it perfectly at the end to get over the line.” Perry also emphasized the importance of partnerships, lauding Capsey’s batting display as “outstanding” and noting how crucial those alliances were in the closing stages.
“Having the chance to take it deep and finish the last ten runs made it a great contest,” she added. The match attracted considerable attention because England and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham was in the crowd. Earlier in the year, Bellingham had purchased a 1.2 per cent share in Birmingham Phoenix, making his presence at the game a symbolic endorsement of the franchise’s ambitions.
He also attended the men’s fixture later that day, which also featured Welsh Fire. Prior to this victory, Phoenix had suffered defeats to Southern Brave and Trent Rockets, and a rain‑affected encounter with Manchester Super Giants had been abandoned. The win lifts the Phoenix to fifth place on the league table, while Welsh Fire slip to seventh. Meanwhile, Southern Brave continued to dominate the competition, extending their lead at the summit with a flawless five‑win run, including a five‑wicket triumph over London Spirit at Lord’s.
Their bowlers displayed exceptional control and variety, stifling the Spirit’s batting line‑up. Captain Sophie Molineux delivered a standout spell, taking three wickets for just seven runs in her 20‑ball spell – the second‑most economical figures in the tournament’s history, trailing only teammate Lauren Bell’s 4‑6 against Welsh Fire last season. Chasing a target of 115, London Spirit’s innings faltered early when Marizanne Kapp dismissed Lizelle Lee with a caught‑and‑bowled on the fifth ball of the reply.
The Spirit’s subsequent batswomen could not recover, and despite a resilient effort from Maia Bouchier, who top‑scored with 46 off 38 balls, they fell short. Bouchier and Molineux (who was out for 23) were dismissed with just one run needed, the latter caught brilliantly by Deandra Dottin at mid‑wicket.
The Spirit eventually clinched the win with seven balls remaining. Molineux, hailed as the Meerkat Match Hero, reflected on the game, noting, “The pitch offered a little something for the spinners. Tilly (Corteen‑Coleman) bowled beautifully from the top end, and Sarah Glenn played a massive role in the middle, doing what she does best.” She praised the collective bowling effort, stating, “It was a really good bowling performance from everyone all round.
No standouts, just everyone playing their role.” The Hundred’s schedule continues with matches running through to the finals on Sunday, 16 August. Fans can stream every game, including the upcoming fixtures, on the NOW platform, which offers contract‑free access to live cricket and additional sports content.
The competition promises more thrilling encounters as teams battle for the coveted final spots, with Phoenix hoping to build on their newfound momentum and challenge the league’s front‑runners.