Lauren Bell holds nerve as Southern Brave edge MI London by one run

Lauren Bell conceded six runs in the final over as Southern Brave held on to beat MI London by one run in the 2026 Women's Hundred final at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton. The result was decided in the closing over, with Bell's bowling ensuring the narrow margin stood.
The match, staged at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton, concluded the 2026 Women's Hundred. Southern Brave emerged as the winners, finishing a single run clear of MI London. The final over of the contest produced six runs, delivered by Lauren Bell, and that sequence determined the outcome. The slim difference in the scores ensured a dramatic finish to the tournament.
Tasked with bowling the last over, Lauren Bell conceded six runs to MI London. Those runs proved insufficient for MI London to overhaul Southern Brave’s total, leaving the visitors short by one run. Bell’s final over thus played the decisive role in preserving the Brave’s advantage.
The one-run margin underscored how close the contest was between the two sides. Every scoring opportunity and defensive effort earlier in the match contributed to a situation where the final six runs mattered so greatly. The narrow victory reflected the tight nature of the encounter in Southampton.
On the day, the Utilita Bowl provided the stage for the competition’s finale, where Southern Brave ultimately prevailed. The outcome turned on the closing moments and on Bell’s ability to see the final over through with only six runs conceded. That pair of facts — the six runs and the one-run margin — encapsulated the decisive passage of the match.
Southern Brave’s victory in the 2026 Women's Hundred was sealed in those final moments at the Utilita Bowl, with Lauren Bell’s last over proving pivotal. The one-run result will stand as the defining statistic from the tournament’s finale.

