The 13th match of The Hundred Women’s Competition 2026 at Southampton on July 30 produced an exhilarating spectacle on the pitch as Southern Brave faced off against Birmingham Phoenix. While the match delivered top-tier action, a heartwarming post-match moment between Indian batter Jemimah Rodrigues and Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana quickly captured sports headlines worldwide, standing out as a testament to camaraderie in franchise cricket.
Jemimah Rodrigues’ hug with Pakistan captain Fatima Sana at The Hundred draws attention amid India’s ‘no handshake’ policy
A warm embrace between Rodrigues and Sana has caught everyone’s attention, since it comes at a time when India and Pakistan haven’t been on the friendliest terms on the cricket field.
Ties between the two countries took a sharp downturn following the Pahalgam attack, and that chill has clearly seeped into how the teams interact during international matches. India’s men’s side made headlines when they refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts ahead of the 2025 Asia Cup, establishing a strict “no handshake” protocol. The women’s national team followed a similar path, keeping their distance from Pakistani players during the subsequent ODI World Cup.
Yet outside the rigid boundaries of bilateral international cricket, franchise leagues on foreign soil continue to offer a different narrative. Players from both sides have routinely shared respectful moments, and this latest incident is a clear example of sport bridging geopolitical divides. Jemimah, representing Southern Brave Women, and Sana, driving Birmingham Phoenix Women, crossed paths at Southampton. Once the final ball was bowled, both athletes exchanged handshakes before stepping in for a candid hug, proving that personal respect remains intact among competitors.
Here’s the video:
Everyone debating if Fatima Sana and jemimah Rodrigues would shake hands and they straight up HUGGED?!😭😭🙏
Keep politics out of sports FOREVER. pic.twitter.com/XCE2lswGlg
— A. (@anhnjo) July 30, 2026
Southern Brave cruise past Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred Women’s 2026
On the field, Southern Brave Women put on an authoritative display to secure a convincing 24-run victory over Birmingham Phoenix Women. Opting to bat first, Southern Brave set a formidable total of 140/3 in their allotted 100 balls. The innings was anchored by dynamic top-order performances. Maia Bouchier top-scored with a crisp 45 off 31 deliveries (8 fours), combining with Player of the Match Lizelle Lee, who blazed 43 off just 28 balls featuring 7 fours and 2 maximums. The opening duo raced to 50 runs in just 30 balls, setting a dominant tone. Rodrigues applied the finishing touches with an unbeaten 28 off 18 balls at a strike rate of 155.55, alongside captain Sophie Molineux (8*). For Phoenix, bowler Lauren Filer, Alana King, and Alice Capsey picked up a wicket apiece.
In response, Birmingham Phoenix struggled to keep up with the required run rate against a disciplined Brave bowling attack, eventually finishing on 116/5 from their 100 balls. Opener Davina Perrin held the chase together with a brave half-century, scoring 52 off 43 balls (5 fours). However, minimal support from the middle order hampered their progress. Tammy Beaumont contributed 22, while skipper Ellyse Perry remained unbeaten on 16 off 11 balls.
Molineux led the charge with the ball for Southern Brave, returning clinical figures of 2 for 24 in her 20 balls. She received tight support from Lauren Bell (1/16), Tilly Corteen-Coleman (1/19), and Sarah Glenn (1/27), successfully restricting Phoenix well short of the 141-run target.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
