Southern Brave kept their flawless run in this season's The Hundred, cruising to a 24‑run triumph over Birmingham Phoenix at the Southampton ground. The win marked their fourth successive success, reinforcing their position at the top of the table, while Phoenix remain stuck at the bottom, still searching for that elusive first win.
Phoenix won the toss and elected to chase a target of 141 set by Brave after a disciplined fielding effort that kept the scoring rate modest on the expansive pitch. The chase began positively, with Tammy Beaumont and Davina Perrin providing a solid opening partnership that saw the side reach 50 runs off 37 balls.
Their early momentum suggested Phoenix might recover from their poor season, but the required‑run rate soon began to climb. A strategic timeout was called when the scoreboard read 54 for one, leaving Phoenix needing 54 more runs from the remaining 30 balls after the dismissal of Beaumont, who fell for 22 (23). The pause was intended to regroup, but the innings soon stalled. 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 of the over.
The breakthrough was a turning point. Perrin, who had been the backbone of the innings with a half‑century built over 40 balls and three spectacular catches, attempted a lofted shot off a leg‑break from Sarah Glenn but mistimed it, offering Maia Bouchier an easy catch at long‑on. That dismissal effectively ended Phoenix's hopes, as the side collapsed from there.
Sophie Molineux, the Brave bowler, claimed two wickets in the spell, bringing her tournament tally to seven. She worked in tandem with fellow left‑arm spinner Tilly Courten‑Coleman to apply relentless pressure, limiting any chance of a late surge. Even a quickfire cameo from Ellyse Perry, who struck two long‑handed boundaries, could not bridge the 24‑run deficit, and Phoenix were bowled out well short of the target.
Brave’s batting display was anchored by an explosive powerplay from Lizelle Lee, who smashed 43 runs off just 23 balls, including the only two sixes of the match. Her aggressive start set a strong platform for the middle order. Maia Bouchier contributed a brisk 45 off 31 balls, capitalising on Lee’s momentum, while Jemimah Rodrigues added valuable runs at the death, hitting three fours in the final five deliveries to push the total beyond the 140‑run mark.
The match also featured several noteworthy headlines from The Hundred. SunRisers Leeds eliminated Birmingham Phoenix with a 45‑run win, and Phoebe Litchfield recorded the fastest fifty in the women's competition history during that fixture.
In other games, Sikandar Raza’s cameo powered MI London to a derby victory over the Spirit, and Trent Rockets continued their dominant form with a fifth straight win, highlighted by Jos Buttler’s historic performance for Manchester Super Giants. Ben Duckett starred for the Rockets in a win over SunRisers Leeds, while Rashid Khan took five wickets in MI London’s triumph. Reflecting on the game, Lizelle Lee, who was named the Meerkat Match Hero, commented on the conditions: "I think it was better to bat against the new ball out there.
It came off the wicket a bit easier and as soon as the ball got a bit softer, it became harder to play." She praised her teammates, saying, "Our batters did really well at the end there to get us up to a good score, and I think that's what set us apart. Our bowlers are not getting enough credit. They've bowled extremely well, they get us out of everything. Everyone's gelling pretty well and we seem to be able to get over the line in tough situations.
Sophie Molineux as captain is such a calm presence on the field and I feel that is flowing into everybody, and it shows." Looking ahead, Manchester Super Giants will host Trent Rockets on Friday, with the women's match slated for 3 pm and the men's fixture at 6:30 pm, both broadcast live on Sky Sports. Fans can also catch The Hundred and other contract‑free cricket action on the NOW platform. The Brave’s unbeaten run continues, and Phoenix will be eager to regroup and find a way back into contention as the tournament progresses.