The Hundred women’s competition, Utilita Bowl

Southern Brave 140-3 (100 balls): Bouchier 45 (31); Filer 1-22

Birmingham Phoenix 116-5 (100 balls): Perrin 52 (43); Molineux 2-24

Southern Brave won by 24 runs

Scorecard. Table

Southern Brave continued their unbeaten run with an 24-run win over Birmingham Phoenix at the Utilita Bowl.

The Hundred leaders completed their fourth consecutive victory as bottom side Phoenix failed to chase a target of 141, finishing on 116-5.

Brave openers Maia Bouchier (45) and Lizelle Lee (43) shared a 68-run partnership after their side was put into bat.

Laura Wolvaardt made an uncustomarily slow 11 from 15 deliveries before being stumped off Alana King, but Jemimah Rodrigues struck an unbeaten 18 as Brave closed on 140-3.

Phoenix openers Davina Perrin and Tammy Beaumont set a reasonable platform, putting on 73 before Beaumont was caught for 22 by Rodrigues off the bowling of Tilly Corteen-Coleman.

The dismissal, shortly after the halfway mark of the innings, stalled the Phoenix chase and matters were made worse when Alice Capsey (eight) and Perrin, who made a 43-ball 52, were caught off Lauren Bell and Sarah Glenn.

Home captain Molineux (2-24) removed Annerie Dercksen and Jemima Spence with consecutive deliveries, while England bowlers Bell (1-16) and Corteen-Coleman (1-19) were economical as Phoenix’s challenge petered out.

Brave are now six points clear of second-placed Manchester Super Giants, while Phoenix remain bottom with two wins and a no result from three matches.