The ninth match of The Hundred Women’s Competition 2026 delivered high-octane drama at the Rose Bowl in Southampton on July 27, 2026. In an absolute nail-biter that went down to the final deliveries of the 100-ball contest, Southern Brave (SB-W) managed to pull off a thrilling 1-run victory over MI London (MIL-W). Defending a moderate total of 126, Southern Brave skipper Sophie Molineux produced a tactical masterclass with the ball to turn the tide in her side’s favour during the dying stages of the chase.
Sophie Molineux delivers a perfect yorker to dismiss Chinelle Henry in the crucial over
With MI London closing in on the 127-run target, the match hinged on the late-overs execution from Southern Brave’s bowling attack. On the 91st ball of the chase, captain Molineux stepped up to deliver the defining moment of the match against power-hitter Chinelle Henry. Speared in full, straight, and fast at 54mph aimed directly at off and middle stump. Henry fails to make contact as the ball sneaks underneath her bat resulting into losing her wicket at a crucial juncture.
Molineux immediately raised her arm in celebration after executing the textbook left-arm arm-ball yorker. Henry could do nothing but watch her stumps shatter, completely unable to squeeze out the rapid, low trajectory delivery. The dismissal proved to be the pivotal breakthrough, breaking MI London’s momentum just as they needed 15 runs from the final 9 balls.
Here’s the video:
Sophie Molineux delivering when it matters most!
MI London require 8 runs from 5 balls 🫨#TheHundred pic.twitter.com/WEvzslsjIg
— The Hundred (@thehundred) July 27, 2026
Southern Brave edge out MI London in The Hundred Women’s 2026
Earlier in the match, Southern Brave posted 126/7 in their allotted 100 balls after being put into bat. Key contributions came from opener Maia Bouchier (31 off 22 balls) and South African powerhouse Laura Wolvaardt (35 off 30 balls). However, it was Jemimah Rodrigues who set the tempo in the middle order, firing a swift 32 off 22 balls with three boundaries to earn the Player of the Match award. Hayley Matthews was the standout bowler for MI London, picking up 4 wickets for 22 runs in her 20-ball spell.
Chasing 127, MI London appeared in complete control for large parts of their innings thanks to an unbeaten half-century from opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who struck 52 off 41 balls with six boundaries. Supported by captain Hollie Armitage (27 off 21 balls), MI London reached 100 runs in 79 balls and required under a run-a-ball heading into the final stretch.
The game turned drastically when Sarah Glenn removed Armitage on the 85th ball, followed by Molineux’s crucial cleanup of Henry on ball 91. Requiring tight bowling to defend the dynamic finish, Molineux (1/22 off 20b), Issy Wong (1/20 off 20b), and Glenn (1/24 off 20b) restricted Nicola Carey (8* off 5b) and Wyatt-Hodge in the final five balls, leaving MI London just one run short at 125/3 as time expired.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
