The Hundred: Birmingham Phoenix seal first win by beating Welsh Fire in front of Jude Bellingham as Southern Brave continue perfect run

Birmingham Phoenix won their first match in The Hundred 2026 women's competition in dramatic fashion, defeating Welsh Fire with just one ball remaining as investor Jude Bellingham watched on.

The Phoenix were bottom of the table going into the game at Edgbaston, sitting on just two points.

Welsh Fire batted first after the home side opted to bowl and made 144 from 100 balls with Georgia Voll scoring 78 off 55 deliveries.

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However, it was the joint-firepower of Elysse Perry and Alice Capsey that earned Birmingham their first victory, hitting 68no and 51 respectively.

Phoenix took the game right down to the wire, though, still needing 10 to win with three balls remaining.

But Perry then launched Heather Graham for a six over deep midwicket before striking the next ball for four through point to secure the victory.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Perry said: "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."

England and Real Madrid star Bellingham was in the crowd for the women's match and ahead of the men's contest, also with Welsh Fire.

This follows his purchase of a 1.2 per cent stake in the Phoenix earlier this year.

Prior to the Welsh Fire clash, Birmingham had previously fallen to defeat to Southern Brave, Trent Rockets and had their game with Manchester Super Giants abandoned due to rain.

The Phoenix now sit fifth in The Hundred table, while Welsh Fire drop to seventh.

Brave extend lead at top with fifth win in five

Southern Brave extended their lead at the top of the table and look favourites to book the first spot in The Hundred final after making it five wins from five with a five-wicket win over London Spirit at Lord's.

The table-toppers showed why they are regarded as having the best attack in the competition, bowling with excellent control and variation to strangle a Spirit batting line-up that at no point looked like getting away from them.

Brave skipper Sophie Molineux led the way with outstanding figures of 3-7 from her 20 balls, the second most economical figures in the competition's history behind only team-mate Lauren Bell who took 4-6 against Welsh Fire last season.

With 115 the target, Marizanne Kapp dismissed Lizelle Lee caught-and-bowled from the fifth ball of the reply and returned to bowl the in-form Jemimah Rodrigues, but the Spirit's total was never going to be enough on a good Lord's surface.

Maia Bouchier top-scored for the Brave with 46 from 38 as they stuttered across the line, losing Bouchier and Molineux (23) with one run required - the latter brilliantly caught by Deandra Dottin at midwicket - before they got home with seven balls to spare.

'Everyone did their role'

Sophie Molineux, the Meerkat Match Hero, speaking on Sky Sports Cricket:

"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."

Watch every match of The Hundred through to the finals on Sunday August 16. Watch The Hundred and more contract-free on NOW