Southern Brave Women continued their impressive unbeaten run in The Hundred Women’s Competition 2026 with a comfortable five-wicket victory over London Spirit Women at Lord’s on Saturday.
Chasing a target of 115, Southern Brave reached 115/5 in 93 balls, sealing the win with seven balls remaining. Captain Sophie Molineux delivered an outstanding all-round performance, producing a match-winning spell with the ball before making a valuable contribution during the chase. Her efforts earned her the Player of the Match award as Southern Brave strengthened their position at the top of the points table with another convincing performance.
After winning the toss, Southern Brave elected to field first, and the decision paid off almost immediately. Their bowlers maintained excellent discipline from the beginning, regularly breaking partnerships and never allowing London Spirit’s batters to settle. Every wicket increased the pressure on the opposition, and despite a few useful contributions in the middle order, Spirit were restricted to 114/8 from their 100 balls, leaving Brave with a manageable chase.
London Spirit suffered an early setback when wicketkeeper Amy Jones was caught by Issy Wong off Sophie Molineux for only three runs. Marie Kelly followed soon afterwards for a duck, also falling to Molineux. Grace Harris attempted to counterattack with 16 runs from 13 balls, including three boundaries, but Sarah Glenn dismissed her to leave Spirit struggling at 37/3, giving Southern Brave complete control of the contest.
Experienced all-rounder Marizanne Kapp then tried to rebuild the innings with a composed knock of 34 from 27 balls, striking four boundaries while holding one end together. However, her innings ended when she was caught by Jodi Grewcock off Tilly Corteen-Coleman. Sterre Kalis added only three runs before becoming Sarah Glenn’s second victim, and London Spirit continued to lose wickets at regular intervals without managing to build the momentum required for a competitive total.
The biggest resistance came from Nadine de Klerk, who played an aggressive innings of 38 from 28 balls, hitting one four and three sixes. Her late attacking shots lifted London’s score past the 100-run mark, but she received little support from the other end. Deandra Dottin managed five runs, Charis Pavely scored one, while captain Charlie Dean remained unbeaten on eight from only three deliveries as London Spirit finished on 114/8, a total that always looked below par.
Southern Brave’s bowling unit produced another outstanding collective effort. Captain Sophie Molineux was the standout performer, returning magnificent figures of 3 wickets for just 7 runs from her 20 balls. Sarah Glenn finished with 2/28, while Tilly Corteen-Coleman also impressed with 2/26. Lauren Bell claimed one wicket, and together the bowling attack once again demonstrated why Southern Brave have been one of the most consistent teams in this season’s competition.
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The chase did not begin perfectly for Southern Brave. Lizelle Lee was dismissed for a duck by Marizanne Kapp, while Laura Wolvaardt made 13 before Nadine de Klerk trapped her lbw. Jemimah Rodrigues added 12 from only nine balls but also fell to Kapp, leaving Southern Brave at 62/3 and briefly giving London Spirit hope of defending the modest total.
However, opener Maia Bouchier played a calm and mature innings of 46 from 38 balls, striking five fours and one six to guide the chase. She rotated the strike intelligently and punished loose deliveries whenever the opportunity came. Captain Sophie Molineux supported her brilliantly with 23 from 24 balls, and their partnership took Southern Brave within touching distance of victory before both batters departed in the closing stages.
The remaining runs were completed comfortably as Jodi Grewcock stayed unbeaten without facing a ball, while Naomi Dattani finished on one not out to complete the chase with seven balls remaining. For London Spirit, Marizanne Kappand Nadine de Klerk picked up two wickets each, while Charlie Dean claimed one.
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Despite their efforts, the low total proved difficult to defend. With this victory, Southern Brave Women remains unbeaten with five wins from five matches, collecting 20 points to stay firmly at the top of the standings. London Spirit Women remain fourth with six points from four matches, and Southern Brave continue to establish themselves as one of the strongest title contenders in this year’s tournament.
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