The Southern Brave continued their flawless run in this season's The Hundred, securing a comfortable 24‑run triumph over the Birmingham Phoenix. By maintaining their unbeaten status, the Brave now boast a perfect four‑match record, while the Phoenix remain anchored at the bottom of the league table, still searching for their inaugural win.
After electing to field first, the Brave set a target of 141 runs on the expansive Southampton ground. Their innings was anchored by a series of aggressive strokes and disciplined partnerships that kept the scoreboard ticking.
The Phoenix, in response, began their chase positively, reaching 50 runs off 37 deliveries thanks to solid contributions from Tammy Beaumont and the young Davina Perrin, who both displayed a blend of composure and intent. A strategic timeout was called when the Phoenix required 54 runs from the remaining 30 balls, having just lost Beaumont for 22 (23). The interruption was meant to regroup the side, but the momentum soon stalled. Alice Capsey, who had already impressed with her bowling earlier in the match, delivered a crucial breakthrough by skidding a slower ball from Lauren Bell onto the extra‑cover region, dismissing Capsey on her ninth delivery.
This wicket shifted the pressure back onto the Phoenix. Perrin, who had been the standout batter for Birmingham with a hard‑earned half‑century off 40 balls, survived three catching chances before eventually mistiming a lofted shot against a leg‑break from Sarah Glenn.
The mis‑hit was caught by Maia Bouchier at long‑on, ending Perrin’s innings and effectively killing the Phoenix’s chase. Sophie Molineux then stepped up, claiming two wickets to bring her tournament tally to seven. Working in tandem with fellow left‑arm spinner Tilly Courteen‑Coleman, Molineux applied relentless pressure, preventing the Phoenix from building any meaningful partnership.
Even a quick cameo from Ellyse Perry, who struck a pair of long‑handed boundaries, could not bridge the gap, and the Phoenix fell short by 24 runs. Earlier in the innings, Lizelle Lee had provided the Brave with a blistering start, smashing 43 runs off just 23 balls and hitting the only two sixes of the match during the powerplay.
Her aggressive intent set the tone for the innings. Maia Bouchier, arriving at the crease shortly after, added a brisk 45 from 31 balls, while Jemimah Rodrigues contributed valuable runs in the death overs, hitting three fours in the final five deliveries to cement the Brave’s total. The match also featured several noteworthy moments from the broader competition.
SunRisers Leeds recorded a 45‑run victory to eliminate the Phoenix in a separate fixture, and Phoebe Litchfield etched her name in the record books by scoring the fastest fifty in women’s The Hundred history. Meanwhile, Sikandar Raza delivered a stunning cameo that propelled MI London to a derby win over the Spirit, and Jos Buttler made history for the Manchester Super Giants as they continued their dominant form. Reflecting on the game, Lizelle Lee, who was named the Meerkat Match Hero, explained the challenges of batting against the new ball: "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, noting, "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, the Manchester Super Giants will host the Trent Rockets on Friday, with the women's match slated for a 3 pm kickoff followed by the men's game at 6:30 pm, both broadcast live on Sky Sports.
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