Birmingham Phoenix secured their maiden triumph in the 2026 Women's Hundred in spectacular fashion, edging out Welsh Fire with just a single delivery to spare while football star Jude Bellingham looked on from the stands. The win was a dramatic climax to a match that saw Phoenix claw their way out of the bottom of the table and into a respectable mid‑table position. When the teams walked onto the Edgbaston pitch, Phoenix were languishing at the very foot of the standings, having amassed only two points from their opening fixtures.
Their early season form had been underwhelming, with losses to Southern Brave and Trent Rockets and a rain‑abandoned encounter against Manchester Super Giants leaving them with little to celebrate. Welsh Fire, meanwhile, elected to bat first after winning the toss, hoping to set a challenging target for the home side. The Fire’s innings unfolded at a brisk clip, with Georgia Voll providing the backbone of the total. Voll smashed 78 runs off just 55 balls, anchoring a 144‑run total from the allotted 100 balls.
Her innings was a blend of power and precision, and it set a high bar for the Phoenix bowlers to meet. Birmingham’s bowlers managed to keep the run rate in check, but the target remained formidable.
In response, the Phoenix’s batting line‑up delivered a performance that will be remembered for its composure under pressure. Elysse Perry and Alice Capsey combined for a partnership that turned the tide.
Perry contributed a quick‑fire 68 runs without being dismissed, while Capsey added a valuable 51. Their aggressive stroke‑play, particularly through the mid‑wicket and point regions, kept the required run rate within reach and built momentum for the final overs. As the innings entered its closing stages, Phoenix still needed ten runs with three balls remaining.
The tension was palpable. Perry, already in fine form, struck a six over deep mid‑wicket off Heather Graham, instantly reducing the equation.
The very next ball, she smashed a four through point, sealing a victory that sent the Edgbaston crowd into a frenzy. The win not only gave Phoenix their first points of the campaign but also lifted them to fifth place in the league table, while Welsh Fire slipped to seventh. After the match, Perry spoke to Sky Sports, describing the atmosphere and the significance of the win: "It is lovely to have the win at home, amazing atmosphere here today.
I thought we did pretty well to restrict the Fire there with our bowling and then [we] just timed it at the end to get over the line. The results haven't been there for us but we've had a lot of fun as a group. Today was another cool opportunity and a nice challenge. Partnerships are crucial and the way Alice batted today was outstanding.
To have the opportunity there to take it deep and have a chance in the last 10. It was a great contest." Jude Bellingham’s presence added an extra layer of intrigue to the occasion.
The England and Real Madrid midfielder had purchased a 1.2 percent stake in the Phoenix earlier in the year, signalling his growing interest in cricket and in the franchise’s future. His attendance at the women's match highlighted the increasing crossover appeal between football and cricket, and he was also slated to watch the men’s game later that day, which also featured Welsh Fire. The broader context of the competition saw Southern Brave extending their dominance at the top of the table.
After a flawless five‑win run, including a five‑wicket victory over London Spirit at Lord's, Brave looked poised to claim the top spot heading into the final. Their bowlers displayed exceptional control and variation, with captain Sophie Molineux delivering an economy‑record performance of 3‑7 from her 20‑ball spell—only surpassed historically by teammate Lauren Bell’s 4‑6 against Welsh Fire in the previous season.
London Spirit’s chase of 115 runs was thwarted early when Marizanne Kapp dismissed Lizelle Lee caught‑and‑bowled on the fifth ball of the innings. Kapp then returned to bowl against the in‑form Jemimah Rodrigues, but the Spirit’s total never looked threatening on a well‑prepared Lord’s surface. Maia Bouchier top‑scored for Brave with 46 off 38 balls, but the team lost both Bouchier and Molineux (who fell for 23) with just one run required.
A spectacular catch by Deandra Dottin at mid‑wicket sealed the win, with Brave finishing the chase with seven balls to spare. Molineux, later named the Meerkat Match Hero, reflected on the match: "The pitch had a little bit in it for the spinners. I thought Tilly (Corteen‑Coleman) bowled really well from that top end as well and Glenny (Sarah Glenn) played a massive role there in the middle doing what she does best. It was a really good bowling performance from everyone all round.
No standouts, just everyone playing their role." The Hundred continues to capture the imagination of fans across the UK, offering fast‑paced, high‑energy cricket that blends traditional skills with innovative formats. With matches streamed on NOW and a host of news updates, fans can follow every twist and turn as the competition heads toward its climax on Sunday, August 16, when the final will determine the champion. The Phoenix’s breakthrough win, the Brave’s unbeaten run, and the involvement of high‑profile investors like Bellingham all underscore the growing popularity and commercial appeal of this modern cricketing spectacle.