The Hundred 2026: Jemimah Rodrigues' Quickfire Knock Helps Southern Brave Stay Unbeaten

India batter Jemimah Rodrigues played another impactful all-round role for Southern Brave, contributing an unbeaten cameo with the bat and producing a crucial catch in the field as her side defeated Birmingham Phoenix by 24 runs in a Women's Hundred 2026 league match at Southampton on Thursday.

Rodrigues scored a brisk 28 not out off just 18 balls, helping Southern Brave finish strongly after a solid opening platform. She then made her presence felt in the field by taking an important catch to dismiss Tammy Beaumont as Birmingham Phoenix fell well short of their target of 141.

The victory keeps Southern Brave unbeaten in the tournament and strengthens their grip at the top of the points table with 16 points, underlining their status as one of the favourites for the title.

After being asked to bat first, Southern Brave produced another disciplined batting performance to post 140/3 from their 100 balls. The innings was built around an excellent opening stand between Maia Bouchier and Lizelle Lee, who ensured the home side made full use of the powerplay. Bouchier was the more aggressive of the two, striking 45 off 31 balls with a series of elegant strokes that kept the scoreboard moving.

Lee complemented her partner perfectly, compiling 43 from 28 deliveries with a combination of controlled aggression and intelligent shot selection. Their partnership gave Southern Brave complete control of the innings before Birmingham Phoenix finally managed a breakthrough. South African star Laura Wolvaardt could not convert her start, departing after scoring 11 from 15 balls, leaving the middle order with the task of providing a strong finish.

Walking to the crease during the closing stages of the innings, Jemimah Rodrigues immediately looked comfortable against both pace and spin. The Indian international played with freedom, rotating the strike effectively before accelerating in the final stages. Her unbeaten 28 off just 18 balls proved to be one of the defining contributions of the match.

Rodrigues particularly capitalised during the final set, where she struck three boundaries after surviving a chance that Birmingham Phoenix failed to convert. The dropped opportunity proved costly as Jemimah ensured Southern Brave finished with valuable late runs that eventually proved decisive. Her innings lifted the total beyond 140, a score that initially appeared only slightly above par but ultimately proved more than enough.

Among the bowlers, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana endured a difficult outing, conceding 33 runs in just 15 balls, with Southern Brave's batters targeting her during the death overs.

Needing 141 runs for victory, Birmingham Phoenix required a positive start but found themselves under pressure despite a determined effort from young batter Davina Perrin. Perrin produced a composed half-century, showing maturity beyond her years while anchoring the chase.

However, she found little sustained support from the other end. Experienced England opener Tammy Beaumont contributed 22 from 23 balls, but her inability to accelerate placed additional pressure on the middle order. The turning point came when Beaumont attempted to force the pace and was dismissed courtesy of a well-judged catch by Jemimah Rodrigues, giving bowler Tilly Corteen-Coleman an important breakthrough.

The dismissal halted Birmingham's momentum at a crucial stage of the chase.

Jemimah's influence extended well beyond her batting contribution. Earlier in the innings, Southern Brave's fielders had been guilty of putting down a few catches, allowing Perrin and Beaumont to build a useful partnership. Rodrigues, however, maintained her composure when the opportunity finally arrived. Her safe catch to dismiss Beaumont helped shift momentum firmly back towards Southern Brave and highlighted her value as one of the team's most dependable fielders.

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The dismissal exposed Birmingham's middle order, which struggled to maintain the required scoring rate. Captain Ellyse Perry remained unbeaten on 16 from 11 balls, but by the time she found some rhythm, the required rate had climbed beyond reach.

Without meaningful partnerships around her, the Australian all-rounder could not prevent Birmingham Phoenix from slipping to another defeat.

The latest victory extends Southern Brave's unbeaten run in the 2026 edition of The Hundred. With 16 points, they currently sit at the top of the standings, having combined consistent batting performances with disciplined bowling and sharp fielding throughout the competition. One of the biggest strengths of the side has been the contributions from multiple players.

While Bouchier and Lee laid the platform at the top of the order, Jemimah Rodrigues once again demonstrated why she is such an important middle-order asset. Her ability to score quickly in the closing stages and contribute in the field provides Southern Brave with excellent balance.

The Hundred continues to offer Indian cricketers an important platform to compete alongside some of the world's leading players. Jemimah Rodrigues' latest performance adds to a series of encouraging displays from Indian stars in the tournament and will be welcomed by fans ahead of a busy international calendar.

Attention now shifts to another exciting fixture involving Indian players.

On July 31, Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh are set to feature for Manchester Super Giants when they take on Trent Rockets at Emirates Old Trafford.

With the tournament entering a crucial phase, every match will play a significant role in determining the playoff race, and Indian fans will once again be watching closely as some of the country's biggest cricketing stars continue to make their mark in one of the world's most competitive franchise competitions.