Birmingham Phoenix secured their first win in the 2026 Women's Hundred in spectacular fashion, edging out Welsh Fire with just a single ball left on the clock, while football star Jude Bellingham watched from the stands. The Phoenix entered the match at Edgbaston perched at the bottom of the league table, holding only two points after a series of early setbacks. Welsh Fire won the toss and elected to bat first, posting a competitive total of 144 runs off their allotted 100 balls. Georgia Voll anchored the innings, smashing 78 runs from just 55 deliveries, a knock that kept the Fire in contention throughout the chase.
However, the decisive blow came from the combined firepower of Elysse Perry and Alice Capsey, who contributed 68 and 51 runs respectively, turning the tide in Birmingham’s favor. The chase was a nail‑biter. With three balls remaining, the Phoenix still required ten runs to win. Perry responded with a six over deep mid‑wicket, sending Heather Graham soaring over the boundary, and then followed up by striking a four through point on the very next delivery, sealing the victory for Birmingham.
After the match, Perry told Sky Sports, "It’s wonderful to win at home, the atmosphere here today was electric. I think we did a great job containing the Fire with our bowling, and then we timed the finish perfectly to cross the line." She went on to praise the importance of partnerships, noting, "Alice’s batting was outstanding. Having the chance to go deep and finish the last ten runs made it a thrilling contest." England and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham was present in the crowd for the women's encounter and later attended the men’s game, also featuring Welsh Fire.
His presence follows his acquisition earlier this year of a 1.2 percent stake in the Phoenix franchise, underscoring his growing involvement in cricket. Before this triumph, Birmingham had suffered defeats at the hands of Southern Brave and Trent Rockets, and a rain‑affected match against Manchester Super Giants was abandoned without result.
The win propels Phoenix to fifth place in the Hundred standings, while Welsh Fire slip to seventh. Southern Brave continued to dominate the competition, extending their lead at the top of the table and positioning themselves as favourites for the first spot in the final after a flawless five‑win run, highlighted by a five‑wicket victory over London Spirit at Lord’s.
The Brave’s bowlers displayed exceptional control and variation, dismantling the Spirit batting line‑up with relentless pressure. Brave captain Sophie Molineux shone with figures of three wickets for just seven runs from her 20‑ball spell, the second‑most economical performance in the tournament’s history, trailing only teammate Lauren Bell’s 4‑6 against Welsh Fire last season.
Chasing a target of 115, Marizanne Kapp dismissed Lizelle Lee caught‑and‑bowled on the fifth ball of the reply, then returned to bowl the in‑form Jemimah Rodrigues. Despite these wickets, the Spirit’s total proved insufficient on a well‑prepared Lord’s pitch. Maia Bouchier top‑scored for the Brave with a brisk 46 off 38 balls, but the team stumbled near the end, losing both Bouchier and Molineux (who fell for 23) with just one run required.
Molineux was spectacularly caught by Deandra Dottin at mid‑wicket, yet the Brave managed to finish the chase with seven balls to spare. Speaking on Sky Sports Cricket, Molineux, who was named the Meerkat Match Hero, reflected on the match: "The pitch offered a little assistance to the spinners. I thought Tilly (Corteen‑Coleman) bowled superbly from the top end, and Sarah Glenn played a massive role in the middle, doing what she does best. It was a great collective bowling effort – no individual standouts, just everyone executing their roles perfectly." The Hundred’s schedule continues, with every match leading up to the finals on Sunday, August 16, available to stream on NOW without a contract.
Fans can follow the remaining fixtures, keep up with the latest tables, squad announcements, and exclusive video content as the competition builds toward its climax.