From: Ed Mace
Lord’s, 9 August 2026:
The London Spirit won just their second game of The Hundred thanks to a display of late hitting and hostile bowling against the Birmingham Phoenix at the Lord’s on Sunday afternoon.
With both sides playing for pride having been eliminated in last week’s action, it was the experience of Marizanne Kapp that took the Spirit over the line, impressing with both bat and ball.
Phoenix decided to bowl and started strongly in the powerplay. Fatima Sana took the early wicket of Grace Harris and the others bowled in tandem to restrict the rate as Amy Jones and Marie Kelly failed to accelerate.
Jones was able to score six fours in an innings of 39 off 30 but was dismissed by Alana King as she looked to score more freely.
The Spirit continued to struggle as Kelly fell at a strike rate of 77 before captain Charlie Dean could only manage a scratchy 7 off 10.
Reeling at 100-4 with just 13 deliveries left, it was the pair of deadly South Africans who changed the game. Marizanne Kapp put on a clinic in batting at the death, scoring six 6s on the way to an unbeaten 57 off 28 balls.
Nadine de Klerk did her part, scoring 13 off six to boost the Spirit to 140-4 which appeared a much more challenging total to reckon with.
Kapp showcased her all-round dominance during the bowling innings as she took the early wicket of Jemima Spence while bowling at a fantastic economy.
The Phoenix fell further behind the required rate as dangerous Ellyse Perry was dismissed by Charlie Dean for 6 off 10.
Davina Perrin offered some resistance for the Phoenix but failed to find the aggressive impetus needed to take down some tight bowling from the Spirit. She fell for 29 from 28 balls as the Phoenix limped to 48-3 at the halfway mark.
Alice Capsey was the next to fall for the Phoenix as the asking rate eclipsed two runs a ball, before Annerie Dercksen edged behind to Amy Jones off the bowling of Hannah Rainey. The wickets continued to be shared around the bowing attack in what was an excellent team performance in the field.
The Phoenix limped to 108-8 as their dismal campaign continued with Charlie Dean giving a captain’s performance with the ball for her three wickets.
Scores in brief:
London Spirit Women beat Birmingham Phoenix Women by 32 runs
London Spirit Women 140-4 (Marizanne Kapp 57, Amy Jones 39; Alana King 2-18)
Birmingham Phoenix Women 108-8 (Emma Lamb 36, Davina Perrin 29; Charlie Dean 3-17, Nadine de Klerk 2-21)
Player of the match – Marizanne Kapp
