Kira Chathli and Grace Harris guide London Spirit to a dominating win over Birmingham Phoenix – The Hundred Women’s 2025

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The reigning champions, London Spirit, delivered a statement performance at Lord’s, crushing Birmingham Phoenix by a staggering 88 runs—the largest margin of victory in the history of The Hundred’s Women 2025. The decisive win, fueled by an explosive partnership between Kira Chathli and Grace Harris, not only propels Spirit to the top of the table but also effectively extinguishes any remaining playoff hopes for the hapless Phoenix.

The foundation of Spirit’s commanding total of 164 was laid by a breathtaking display of power hitting. Opener Kira Chathli, a revelation this season, played her most impressive innings to date, scoring a scintillating 69 from just 35 balls. Her knock, adorned with 13 fours, set a ferocious pace from the outset. She found a formidable partner in the in-form Grace Harris, whose brief but brutal cameo of 15 balls yielded four sixes. The pair’s destructive 47-run partnership from only 21 deliveries took the game completely away from Phoenix, who had initially found some success with the ball.

Spirit’s innings, however, was not without its challenges. They lost key wickets early, with Georgia Redmayne and Cordelia Griffith departing in the powerplay. The impressive Phoenix seamer Em Arlott capitalized on these breakthroughs, claiming three wickets to draw level with Lauren Bell as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 10 scalps. Despite these setbacks, the Chathli-Harris partnership proved to be the turning point, transforming a solid total into a monumental one. Harris, in particular, has been the heartbeat of Spirit’s middle order, now amassing 199 runs at a fearsome strike rate of 180 this term. Her ability to consistently clear the ropes has been a significant factor in her team’s success.

In stark contrast, Phoenix’s chase was a shambles from the get-go. They faltered badly against a disciplined new-ball attack from Spirit. The hosts lost three wickets inside the first 33 balls, a collapse from which they never recovered. Spirit’s left-arm spinner Bex Tyson and the resurgent fast-bowler Issy Wong bowled with exceptional control and fire. Wong, in particular, continues to burnish her credentials as one of England’s most promising young seamers, delivering a performance that showcased her skill and discipline.

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Phoenix’s season-long struggles with the bat were painfully evident. Their high-profile Australian pair, Ellyse Perry and Georgia Voll, both failed to reach double figures, mirroring their team’s overall poor form. The hosts have managed just one half-century all tournament—an innings by Emma Lamb—highlighting a collective batting failure. With just four points from five matches, Phoenix is now virtually out of the running for a playoff spot, a disappointing end to a campaign that had promised much but delivered little.

Spirit, under the astute leadership of Charlie Dean, are once again building momentum at the perfect time. Dean herself contributed with the ball, picking up two crucial wickets, including that of England teammate Amy Jones. The defending champions now sit joint-top of the table with a superior run rate to Southern Brave, demonstrating their title defense is in full swing. This dominant victory serves as a powerful message to their rivals and firmly establishes them as the team to beat as the tournament enters its final stages.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.