The Hundred Women Competition, Utilita Bowl

South Braves 126-7 (100 balls): Wolvaardt 35 (30); Matthew 4-22

MI London 125-3 (100 balls): Wyatt-Hodge 52* (42); Wang 1-20

Southern Brave won by one run

Scorekeeper. Table

Lauren Bell held her nerve as Southern Brave won a last-gasp thriller against MI London to maintain their 100% start to this year’s edition of The Hundred.

With eight runs required off the final five deliveries of the match, Bell kept his cool as MI fell one run short of Brave’s total of 126-7.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge had set the stage for MI’s chase with an unbeaten half-century, but with four needed off Bell’s final delivery, she could not find a boundary.

Bell was harassed by her Brave teammates as they recorded three wins in their first three matches to stay at the top of the standings, while winless MI lamented how they made such a mess in the chase.

Earlier, Maia Bouchier had given an early boost to the Brave innings with a spirited 31 off 22 balls before she was caught by sweeping Hayley Matthews to mid-wicket.

South African batsman Laura Wolvaardt then shared a 60-run stand for the third wicket with the more fluid Jemimah Rodrigues, who made 32 off 22 deliveries only to be caught by Matthews.

But Brave’s innings faded towards the end against some tight bowling from MI as Matthews finished with 4-22.

West Indies all-rounder Matthews gave MI a solid platform in the chase, hitting four fours in his 32 off 28 deliveries only to miss a fastball from Issy Wong.

Wyatt-Hodge and MI captain Holly Armitage looked to have things under control only for the latter to depart for 27 after overtaking Sarah Glenn in the gloves of Lizelle Lee.

MI then struggled to find the middle of the bat as Wong and Sophie Molineux bowled strongly to further pile on the pressure.

Victory still looked within reach for MI when Bell stepped up to launch the final set for Brave, but neither Wyatt-Hodge nor Nicola Carey could find the clean hit needed to beat the defenders as they fell agonizingly short.