Birmingham Phoenix secured their inaugural win in the 2026 Women’s Hundred in spectacular fashion, edging out Welsh Fire with just a single ball to spare while football star Jude Bellingham looked on from the stands. The Phoenix entered the match at Edgbaston perched at the bottom of the table, having amassed only two points from their opening games.
Welsh Fire won the toss and elected to bat, posting a total of 144 runs off their allotted 100 balls. The highlight of the innings was Georgia Voll, who smashed 78 runs from just 55 deliveries, anchoring the Fire’s chase and keeping them in contention for most of the game.
The turning point, however, came from the combined firepower of Elysse Perry and Alice Capsey for Birmingham. Perry contributed a brisk 68 runs without being dismissed, while Capsey added a valuable 51, both innings coming at a pace that kept the pressure on the opposition bowlers. Their partnership set the foundation for a chase that would go down to the very last delivery.
When the Phoenix’s run‑chase reached the final over, they still required ten runs with three balls remaining. Perry then unleashed a six over deep mid‑wicket, sending the crowd into a frenzy, and followed it up with a four through point on the very next ball, sealing a dramatic victory for Birmingham. After the match, Perry spoke to Sky Sports, saying, "It’s wonderful to win at home in front of such an electric atmosphere.
I think we did a good job restricting the Fire with our bowling and then timed our attack perfectly at the end to cross the line." She went on to praise the importance of partnerships, adding, "Alice’s innings was outstanding. Having the chance to finish the game in the last ten runs made it a fantastic contest." England international and Real Madrid forward Jude Bellingham was in the audience for the women's game and also attended the men’s fixture that followed, which also featured Welsh Fire.
Bellingham’s presence was notable because he acquired a 1.2 percent stake in the Phoenix earlier in the year, signaling his growing interest in cricket. Before this triumph, Birmingham had suffered defeats to Southern Brave and Trent Rockets, and a rain‑affected match against Manchester Super Giants had been abandoned.
The win lifts the Phoenix to fifth place on the Hundred 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 streak after dispatching London Spirit at Lord’s by five wickets.
Their bowlers displayed exceptional control and variation, suffocating the Spirit batting line‑up throughout the encounter. Brave captain Sophie Molineux delivered a standout spell, returning figures of 3‑7 from her 20‑ball spell – the second most economical spell in the tournament’s history, trailing only teammate Lauren Bell’s 4‑6 against Welsh Fire last season.
Chasing a target of 115, the Brave’s bowlers struck early, with Marizanne Kapp dismissing Lizelle Lee caught‑and‑bowled on the fifth ball of the reply. Kapp then turned her attention to the in‑form Jemimah Rodrigues, but the Spirit’s total proved insufficient on a well‑prepared Lord’s surface. Maia Bouchier led the Brave’s batting with a fluent 46 from 38 balls, but the team stumbled near the finish, losing Bouchier and Molineux (who made 23) with just one run required. Molineux was caught brilliantly by Deandra Dottin at mid‑wicket, yet the Brave managed to scrape home with seven balls remaining.
Speaking later on Sky Sports Cricket, Molineux, who was named the Meerkat Match Hero, reflected on the game: "The pitch offered a little turn for 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 really good bowling performance from everyone – no individual stand‑outs, just everyone executing their role." The Hundred will continue to showcase thrilling cricket through to the finals scheduled for Sunday, 16 August. Fans can follow every match, including the climactic showdown, on the NOW platform, which offers free, contract‑free streaming of the tournament and additional cricket content.