In a dramatic turn of events, Birmingham Phoenix claimed their first win in The Hundred 2026 women's competition, defeating Welsh Fire with just one ball to spare. Investor Jude Bellingham was in attendance at Edgbaston, where the Phoenix had been struggling at the bottom of the table with only two points prior to the match. Welsh Fire batted first, posting 144 from 100 balls, with Georgia Voll contributing 78 off 55 deliveries.
However, it was the combined efforts of Elysse Perry and Alice Capsey that propelled Birmingham to victory, with Perry hitting 68no and Capsey scoring 51. The match went down to the wire, with Phoenix requiring 10 runs to win from the last three balls. Perry then struck a six over deep midwicket and followed it up with a four through point to secure the win. In a post-match interview with Sky Sports, Perry expressed her delight at the win, praising the team's bowling performance and the crucial partnerships that led to their success.
England and Real Madrid star Bellingham, who recently acquired a 1.2% stake in the Phoenix, was present in the crowd for the women's match and the subsequent men's contest against Welsh Fire. The Phoenix now sit fifth in The Hundred table, while Welsh Fire have dropped to seventh. Meanwhile, Southern Brave extended their lead at the top of the table, making it five wins from five with a five-wicket victory over London Spirit at Lord's.
The table-toppers showcased their exceptional attack, bowling with precision and variation to restrict the Spirit batting line-up. Brave skipper Sophie Molineux led the charge with outstanding figures of 3-7 from her 20 balls, while Maia Bouchier top-scored with 46 from 38 as they secured the win with seven balls to spare.