Kira Chathli hammers London Spirit to big win

The result propels Spirit to joint-top of the table with a slightly superior run rate to Southern Brave, and leaves the Phoenix down and virtually out, on just four points from five matches

ECB Media | 17/08/2025 at 17:45

Edgbaston: London Spirit 164-6, Birmingham Phoenix 76 - London Spirit win by 88 runs

A cracking partnership of 47 from just 21 balls between Spirit's breakout opener Kira Chathli and the megastar Grace Harris took the game away from Phoenix, who floundered badly in pursuit of 164, losing three wickets inside the first 33 balls to eventually finish 88 short – the largest margin of victory in the history of The Hundred.

The result propels Spirit to joint-top of the table with a slightly superior run rate to Southern Brave, and leaves the Phoenix down and virtually out, on just four points from five matches.

The hosts will be disappointed with their campaign. Just a single tournament half century, to Emma Lamb, and little to show for the efforts of their Australian pair, the great Ellyse Perry and the national team's new star opener, Georgia Voll.

Both made single-figure scores here as the Phoenix stuttered up top against some disciplined new-ball bowling from the Spirit's left-arm spinner Bex Tyson and the rejuvenated Issy Wong, who yet again burnished her credentials as one of the best young seamers in the English game.

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^{Kira Chathli smashed a half century for London Spirit (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)}

Reigning champions Spirit, under Charlie Dean, who bowled beautifully to pick up two wickets herself, including that of her England teammate Amy Jones, are again building at just the right time.

Chathli in particular has been a revelation. Her 35-ball 69 here, containing 13 fours, is her most impressive knock to date in the tournament, while Harris is the heartbeat of their middle order, a woman in the form of her life who's now plundered 199 tournament runs this term at a ferocious strike rate of 180. Her knock today may have occupied just 15 balls, but she still planted four of them over the rope.

They needed it too, after losing Georgia Redmayne and Cordelia Griffith in the powerplay and then Charli Knott soon after, the impressive Phoenix seamer Em Arlott picking up three more scalps to draw level, on 10, with Lauren Bell as the most prolific wicket-taker of the tournament.

Kira Chathli was named the Meerkat Match Hero. "In The Hundred that’s definitely my best performance to date," she said. "They bowled really well up top – as did our bowlers as well – but the key is to give yourself a few balls, and after that it got a little easier. As a team we just focus on what do really well as a team, which is to play positive cricket and there’s no doubt in my mind that every member of our team backs each other to deliver their skill."