Southern Brave maintained their perfect start to The Hundred women's competition with a dramatic one-run victory over MI London at the Utilita Bowl. Chasing 126-7, MI fell short on 125-3 as Lauren Bell held her nerve in the final over, defending eight runs off the last five balls.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge anchored the chase with an unbeaten 52 off 42 balls, but needed four off the final delivery and could not find the boundary. Hayley Matthews earlier claimed 4-22 to restrict Brave's innings, while South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt top-scored with 35 off 30 balls and Jemimah Rodrigues added a fluent 32.

MI appeared in control at the halfway stage until Holly Armitage's dismissal for 27 sparked a collapse. Issy Wong and Sophie Molineux bowled tightly to ramp up the pressure before Bell's heroics secured Brave's third straight win, leaving MI winless and rueing a missed opportunity.