End of the drought: Brave claim first win behind Marcus Stoinis heroics

Southern Brave (Men) secured their first win of the 2026 Men's Hundred season on their fourth attempt, defeating Birmingham Phoenix (Men) by 12 runs in a low-scoring thriller at Southampton.

First Innings (Southern Brave): Brave scraped together 128/8 in their 100 balls on a tricky pitch. Marcus Stoinis injected crucial momentum into a stuttering innings with a team-high 34, including back-to-back sixes off Scott Currie (one carrying 98 meters). Rehan Ahmed led the Phoenix attack with figures of 3-25.

Will Smeed was caught at long-on trying to launch Wood into the bleachers. Then Rehan Ahmed, immediately after scooping Jordan for six, miscued a slog into the outer, where Archer made good ground from long-on. The skipper Donovan Ferreira then came and went, clean bowled by Archer hoicking across the line to leave the Phoenix at 65 for 4, still needing 64 from 39 balls.

A brief rebuild between Laurie Evans and Mitchell Owen was ended by Marcus Stoinis, who induced a nick from Evans, and when Adil Rashid accounted for Owen, bowled off the under-edge, the Phoenix had lost five wickets in 30 balls.

Stoinis was the difference-maker in both innings, bringing energy to Brave's stuttering batting, depositing Scott Currie for back-to-back sixes - the second carrying 98 metres - and punching his way to 34 before falling to one of the catches of the tournament from Ferreira at short cover. And then with the ball, he bowled 10 balls in a row for just three runs to stymie Phoenix's progress, building the pressure that brought the collapse.

With 15 balls to go the game was still alive, but a stunning final five from Archer, conceding just two runs, stretched the equation to 29 from the last 10. Sean Dickson planted Jordan for a brace of sixes, but Wood held his nerve to ice the game, claiming two wickets, allied to a cool run-out from Rashid, as Brave somehow got home by 12 runs.

The Phoenix Collapse: Phoenix appeared in total control early at 52/1 after 47 balls, but collapsed as Brave’s bowling attack applied severe pressure, losing five wickets in the space of 30 balls.

Stoinis & Rashid Turning the Tide: Stoinis capped off his Player of the Match performance by delivering a 10-ball spell conceding just 3 runs while taking 2-16. Adil Rashid and Jofra Archer choked the middle overs to complete the turnaround.

The Death Overs: Needing 29 from the final 10 balls, Phoenix put up a late fight through Sean Dickson, but Luke Wood held his nerve to close out the match, picking up two late wickets alongside a run-out from Rashid to restrict Phoenix to 116/9.

Southern Brave: 128/8 (100 balls) — Marcus Stoinis 34; Rehan Ahmed 3-25, Ben Dwarshuis 2-18, Birmingham Phoenix: 116/9 (100 balls) — Will Smeed 35; Luke Wood 3-24, Marcus Stoinis 2-16

Southern Brave 128 for 8 (Stoinis 34, Rehan 3-25, Dwarshuis 2-18) beat Birmingham Phoenix 116 for 9 (Smeed 35, Wood 3-24, Stoinis 2-16) by 12 runs