Bracewell and du Plooy Lead Southern Brave to Dominant Win over Phoenix
Southern Brave chased 107 with ease, winning by 9 wickets in 81 balls. Michael Bracewell starred with 3/10, while Jofra Archer took 2/16. James Vince hit 41 off 30, and Leus du Plooy made 48* off 39. Phoenix managed only 106/7, with Joe Clarke’s 36 the top score.
The Rose Bowl in Southampton buzzed with excitement on August 10, 202, as 12,549 fans filled the stands for the seventh match of The Hundred Men’s Competition. Birmingham Phoenix squared off against Southern Brave in a sunlit day game that revealed a tale of two batting lineups, and Southern Brave won the toss and elected to bowl.
Birmingham Phoenix Innings: A Battle Against the Odds
Phoenix opened with Will Smeed and Ben Duckett, tasked with making the most of the powerplay’s fielding limits. Duckett started with confidence. He scored 20 runs off 21 balls, hitting four boundaries with clean cover drives and sharp cuts. His early intent hinted at a strong foundation for Phoenix. But in the 26th ball, his innings ended when he edged a Chris Jordan delivery to the keeper Laurie Evans, who held a sharp catch. This left Phoenix at 28 for 1 after the powerplay’s 25 balls, which was a decent start but lacking the spark needed for The Hundred’s fast tempo.
Jofra Archer is BACK!
— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 10, 2025
Southern Brave take on Birmingham Phoenix, live on Sky Sports 📺#TheHundred pic.twitter.com/ytTd3eXFfJ
Jacob Bethell, a young all-rounder, came in at number three but couldn’t settle. He faced two balls and scored one run before Michael Bracewell, Southern Brave’s crafty spinner, bowled him in the 32nd ball. Bracewell’s arrival turned the tide. His tight lines and clever variations rattled Phoenix’s batsmen. Smeed, steady with 13 runs off 11 balls and one boundary, fell three balls later in the 35th. He tried an aggressive drive off Bracewell but edged to Evans, leaving Phoenix at 36 for 3. Losing three wickets for eight runs in nine balls put Phoenix in a hole.
Joe Clarke, the wicket-keeper-batsman, stepped up at number four as Phoenix’s main hope. He batted with calm and skill while top-scoring with 36 runs off 27 balls. His four boundaries, mostly through the off-side, included a gorgeous cover drive that showed his quality. Alongside captain Liam Livingstone, Clarke built a 39-run partnership for the fourth wicket, the innings’ biggest stand. Livingstone, usually a destructive hitter, struggled to find his groove. He scored 12 runs off 19 balls with one boundary before lofting a shot off Jofra Archer to James Coles at mid-off in the 70th ball. Archer, sharp in his comeback, bowled with fire and accuracy, ending with 2 wickets for 16 runs in 20 balls.
The middle order crumbled further as Dan Mousley, sent in to lift the tempo, faltered. He made 2 runs off 3 balls before Evans stumped him off Bracewell in the 74th ball. Bracewell’s cunning delivery drew Mousley out of his crease. Aneurin Donald lasted briefly, scoring 2 runs off 3 balls before James Coles bowled him in the 77th ball with a low, skidding delivery. At 80 for 6 after 77 balls, Phoenix were in deep trouble. The lower order had to fight to reach a defendable total.
Benny Howell, a seasoned all-rounder, anchored the end with an unbeaten 9 runs off 11 balls. He played smartly, rotating the strike instead of chasing big shots. Adam Milne at number nine added a late burst, hitting a boundary in his unbeaten 6 runs off 3 balls. Their efforts pushed Phoenix past 100, finishing at 106 for 7. Extras contributed 5 runs, with 2 byes and 3 wides. Overseas pacers Tim Southee and Trent Boult didn’t bat, leaving the tail vulnerable.
A superb display with the ball from Michael Bracewell earlier today in Southampton! 👏#TheHundred pic.twitter.com/6yarfU4wh2
— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 10, 2025
Southern Brave’s bowling was precise and varied. Michael Bracewell shone brightest, earning Player of the Match with 3 wickets for 10 runs in 15 balls. His economy of 0.66 runs per ball and six dot balls choked Phoenix’s scoring. Jofra Archer backed him up with 2 wickets for 16 runs in 20 balls, including 14 dots, his pace unsettling the batsmen. James Coles took 1 wicket for 17 runs in 20 balls, while Chris Jordan’s 1 wicket for 27 runs included Duckett’s scalp. Craig Overton bowled 0 for 22 in 20 balls with 9 dots, and Tymal Mills gave away 0 for 12 in 10 balls. Their tight bowling kept Phoenix in check. Evans’ two catches and a stumping were vital in the field.
Phoenix’s innings lacked the punch needed for The Hundred. They hit just five boundaries and no sixes, far from the format’s usual flair. The pitch had some life, but poor shot choices and the Braves’ disciplined attack kept Phoenix’s total low, leaving their bowlers with a tough task to defend 106.
Southern Brave Innings: A Lesson in Control and Flair
Chasing 107 in 100 balls, Southern Brave put on a clinic, reaching 109 for 1 in 81 balls at a run rate of 1.34. Their nine-wicket win, finished with 19 balls left, came through a commanding opening partnership and a steady finish. This dominant display highlighted Brave’s batting depth and their ability to chase with confidence and style.
A HUGE milestone for James Vince 🌟
— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 10, 2025
He becomes the third player to reach 1000 runs in #TheHundred 📈 pic.twitter.com/01VIkK75m7
Openers James Vince and Leus du Plooy took charge early, handling the powerplay with ease to score 28 runs in 25 balls without loss. Vince, the captain, was in top form, scoring 41 runs off 30 balls with four boundaries. His smooth cover drives and precise cuts carved through Phoenix’s field, setting a strong pace. Du Plooy, steady at first, grew bolder, finishing unbeaten on 48 runs off 39 balls. His innings had five boundaries and a massive six off Liam Livingstone, a pull shot that soared over midwicket, showing his knack for shifting gears. Their 75-run stand in 58 balls all but won the game.
The Phoenix’s bowlers couldn’t find answers. Trent Boult opened but gave up 22 runs in 15 balls with 5 dots, unable to break through. Tim Southee had a tough day, conceding 29 runs in 16 balls, with six boundaries struck off him. Adam Milne bowled neatly, giving away 13 runs in 15 balls with 6 dots, but couldn’t take a wicket. Benny Howell got the only breakthrough, dismissing Vince in the 58th ball when he edged to keeper Joe Clarke, breaking the 75-run opening stand. Howell ended with 1 wicket for 17 runs in 20 balls, his 6 dots showing his control.
At the strategic timeout after 40 balls, Brave were comfortable at 43 for 0, with Vince on 22 and du Plooy on 20. They hit 50 runs in 46 balls, with the opening pair accounting for 50 in the same span. Du Plooy’s six off Livingstone after the timeout swung the game firmly in the Brave’s favor. Jason Roy, coming in at number three after Vince’s exit, kept the momentum going. He smashed an unbeaten 18 runs off 12 balls with three boundaries, including a crisp cover drive. Brave reached 100 in 77 balls and closed out the win with ease.
Phoenix’s bowling lacked the bite to defend 107. Liam Livingstone’s 10 balls cost 18 runs, including the six. Jacob Bethell’s 5 balls went for 9. An early review in the 6th ball against du Plooy for a possible wicket didn’t pay off, adding to their struggles. The fielding was solid but couldn’t make up for the lack of wickets, with only Vince falling. Extras were low at 2, with 1 leg bye and 1 wide, showing Brave’s disciplined batting.
A dominant display takes Southern Brave to a double win at home! 🏡#TheHundred pic.twitter.com/YFstrUmTR8
— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 10, 2025
Brave’s innings had 12 boundaries and one six, reflecting their skill in finding gaps and keeping the scoreboard moving. The unbeaten 34-run stand between du Plooy and Roy for the second wicket ensured a smooth finish. The match showcased Brave’s batting prowess, with du Plooy’s calm and Vince’s fluency leading the way. The rest of the lineup, including Coles, Evans, and Archer, wasn’t needed, highlighting the top order’s strength.
TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game
Michael Bracewell delivered the game’s defining moment with a brilliant bowling spell for Southern Brave. He tore through Phoenix’s batting, finishing with 3 wickets for 10 runs in 15 balls. His economy of 0.66 runs per ball and zero boundaries or sixes kept the pressure on.
Bracewell gets Bethell!
— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 10, 2025
A huge wicket for Southern Brave 👊#TheHundred pic.twitter.com/mpZhjYypvo
His standout moment came early, dismissing Will Smeed (13 off 11) and Jacob Bethell (1 off 2) in quick succession, leaving Phoenix at 36 for 3 by the 35th ball. Later, he outwitted Dan Mousley, stumping him for 2, tightening Brave’s hold.
TCNI’s Hero of the Day
Leus du Plooy earned TCNI’s Hero of the Day for his stellar batting. Unbeaten on 48 runs off 39 balls, he anchored the chase with a strike rate of 123.07. His innings featured five boundaries and a towering six, mixing caution with flair.
After James Vince’s 41 off 30 balls, du Plooy took control, guiding Brave to 109 for 1 in 81 balls to chase 107. His unbeaten 34-run stand with Jason Roy, who made 18 off 12 balls, sealed the win. Du Plooy’s composure and gap-finding ability made him the match’s star.
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